Microwave
Sciences, Inc.
(Announcement - July 1999)
NASA
has awarded a contract to Microwave
Sciences, Inc. for experiments to demonstrate the technique of using a
directed beam of microwave radiation to propel a sail of ultralight
material to very high speeds. In
the future this method can be used for sending probes to the outer solar
system and to the stars.
Of
all the propulsion concepts explored for fast outer solar system and
interstellar exploration, beamed energy clearly works, i. e., needs no new
physics, and has the most potential for near-term development.
Microwave-powered scientific probes have the advantage that energy is
expended only to place the payload and an attached sail in the region of
scientific interest, not to accelerate the driving engine itself.
The engine is never thrown away, but remains on Earth or in nearby
space, so can be used to launch many such probes.
Thus, the technique of using directed beams of coherent radiation
to propel a sail has substantial advantages over rockets in that no fuel
is required in the spacecraft. Indeed,
as has been pointed out by studies, this is the only method for
interstellar propulsion that uses existing beam formation.
It also has the advantage that a number of required elements of the
propulsive technology are already in the early stages of development.
This
laboratory exploration/demonstration of microwave beamed power propulsion
will move 'photon-pushed' sails from paper concept to laboratory reality.
The Microwave Sciences team will conduct flight experiments of new
ultralight carbon fibers that allow acceleration at several gees.
They will develop a predictive model of coupled differential
equations, which will be compared directly with the laboratory flight
measurements. They will also
create and assess concepts for building the infrastructure for space
exploration using beamed microwave power systems.
Dr.
James Benford of Microwave Sciences, Lafayette, California, leads the
all-California project team. Henry
Harris of the Advanced Projects Group, JPL, will coordinate experimental
work at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena.
Dr. Gregory Benford, of Abbenford, Inc., Laguna Beach, will do
analytical work. Fabrication
of the sail material will be by Dr.
Timothy R. Knowles, Energy
Science Laboratories Inc. of San Diego.
James
Benford
Microwave Sciences, Inc.
1041 Los Arabis Lane
Lafayette, CA 94549
Phone: 925-283-8454 |