发展中的激光推进

激光推进作为一种利用激光能量与工质相互作用产生推力的新概念推进技术,以其比冲高、成本低、快速机动等优点吸引了国内外学者的广泛关注,美国、日本、德国、俄罗斯等国家都掀起了激光推进研究工作的热潮。这种新概念推进技术在微小卫星的近地轨道发射和卫星姿轨控等领域有着广阔的应用前景。总结了近年来国外在激光推进领域的主要研究计划,讨论了国外研究计划的进展情况及发展趋势。对激光推进研究工作具有一定的借鉴作用。

Laser propulsion in development

Laser propulsion(LP) is perhaps one of the most realistic advanced propulsion concepts and an effective alternative to conventional rocket launching techniques.A laser is used in laser propulsion as a remote energy source for propulsion.The thrust is produced by high energy exhaust stream caused by laser-induced vaporization of material.More and more scholars have been showing a great interest in laser propulsion for its high specific impulse,low cost,high reliability,etc.The studies on laser propulsion have been carried out in USA,Japan,Germany,Russia,etc.Laser propulsion has a wide application in the field of micro-satellite launch into LEO,attitude and orbit control,and etc.The study programs of laser propulsion in recent years have been summarized with the discussions of its future development trend.This review may provide a guide for further study of laser propulsion.