Flight Dynamics and Simulation of Laser Propelled Lightcraft Christopher G. Ballard∗ NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California 91109 Kurt S. Anderson† Leik Myrabo ‡ Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy NY 12180-3590 Abstract A seven degree-of-freedom (DOF) dynamic model was developed to provide insight into the flight behavior of Type 200 and other related Lightcraft, and to serve as a research tool for developing future engine-vehicle configurations for laser launch- ing of nano-satellites (1-10+ kg). Accurate engine, beam, and aerodynamics mod- els are included to improve the predictive capability of the 7-DOF code. The aero- dynamic forces of lift, drag, and aerodynamic pitching moment were derived from Fluentrcomputational fluid dynamics predictions, and calibrated against limited ex- isting wind tunnel data. To facilitate 7-DOF model validation, simulation results are compared with video analysis of actual flights under comparable conditions. Despite current limitations of the 7-DOF model, the results compared well with experimental flight trajectory data. ∗e-mail:
[email protected] †Corresponding author: Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180-3590, USA; phone: 518-276-2339; fax: 518-276-2623; e-mail:
[email protected] ‡e-mail:
[email protected] 1 Nomenclature ˆb1, ˆb2, ˆb3 Dextral set of orthogonal unit vectors fixed in the despun reference frame(body) ∗ ~aS Acceleration