First attempt of a laser thruster space flight test: Lost at launch

Abstract

Laser thrusters represent a new class of electric propulsion devices. To the best of our knowledge, Dr. Phipps’ μ-thruster prototype (2008) represents the highest technology readiness level to date. So LDU-7 presented in this paper is the world’s first laser thruster approved for a space flight. With carbonized PTFE as a fuel irradiated by a 10 W fiber-coupled diode laser, it was rated for 4 mN pulsed (5 ms to CW) thrust and 400 s specific impulse. Fitting within CubeSat 2U dimensions, such thruster is of great interest for small spacecraft due to its comparatively high specific impulse, imparted momentum low bit (1 μN * s) and wide dynamic range (up to 3 decades). LDU-7 was supposed to rotate hosting satellite ‘Baumanets-2’ within damping capability of its attitude control system. LDU-7 has been lost with all other payload due to ‘Fregat’ upper stage failure after launch by ‘Soyuz 2.1b’ from Vostochny on 28.11.2017. Here we present briefly the description of LDU-7 design and performance, details of its testing program, and planned experiment.