High Energy Laser Systems Test Research Articles

Brief History of the Lightcraft Technology Demonstrator (LTD) Project

This paper presents a brief history of the laser lightcraft research and development project that lead to the first outdoor free‐flight demonstrations for the U.S. government on November 1997 ‐ using the 10 kW PLVTS CO2 laser at the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF), White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM. Summarized herein are some of the technological milestones that brought the Lightcraft Technology Demonstrator (LTD) concept vehicle to its present state of development: 1) from the initial LTD conceptual design, systems integration, and performance analysis for the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO); 2) through laboratory engine bench testing, indoor wire‐guided and vertical free‐flight testing phases under contract to NASA and the USAF; and 3) finally resulting in outdoor flights to the current record altitude of 71 meters (233 ft) on 2 October 2000, sponsored by the Foundation for International Non‐governmental Development of Space (FINDS).