Thrust Measurement of Laser Detonation Thruster with a Pulsed Glass Laser

Experimental studies were carried out for measuring the laser propulsion thrust with using of a Q‐switched Nd:Glass laser. In the tests, a laser beam with 33 ns FWHM pulse width was focused to generate breakdown in the cone‐shaped nozzle of aluminum thrusters which were fixed at the end of a ballistic pendulum. The pulse energy used was 1.0 J and the focusing number is 6.27, which gave the highest energy conversion efficiency from laser energy to that of induced blast wave as found in previous research. The momentum coupling coefficient Cm dependency on nozzle apex angles, 30°, 45° and 60°, were investigated with carefully controlling of the laser ignition positions. Results show that, solid‐state laser could be a candidate to suffice laser propulsion missions in term of Cm it can achieve.