Leik N Myrabo

US Patent:

6488233, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Apr 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/846683

Inventors:

Leik N. Myrabo - Bennington VT

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force - Washington DC

International Classification:

B64C 3900

US Classification:

244 62, 244 51

Abstract:

Provided is a laser propelled craft having a) a forebody or nose, b) a tapering parabolic afterbody optic or mirror, c) a shroud mounted therebetween and extending aft to define an annular space around a portion of the afterbody near its base and d) means to transmit a pulsed laser beam toward the laser craft and afterbody optic and thence to focus into the annular shroud. The laser beam is pulsed to heat and pressurize the air in the annular space to expand same and propel such craft, the afterbody and shroud being so shaped as to self center or remain in the laser beam as the craft is propelled thereby. Such craft, which is spin-stablized, can also carry a fuel insert ring mounted in the shroud around the afterbody, to be ablated by the laser beam at a desired altitude, so as to transition from an air breathing craft to a rocket craft, when the atmospheric density becomes too low, e. g. , at 30 km altitude so that the lasercraft can thereafter be propelled into, e. g. , low earth orbit.