August 05, 2015

Escape Dynamics tested 100 kw microwave system and produced thrust the goal is Single stage to orbit reusable launch


UPDATE - There is a second Nextbigfuture article with more technical details.


Escape Dynamics designed and built a 100kW-class high power microwave system operating in a continuous wave (CW) mode at 92.3GHz. The system incorporates a gyrotron, a power conditioning unit designed to supply highly stable current and voltage and a modular power supply unit. The gyrotron and the power conditioning unit, which provides power to the gyrotron, are designed and built in-house by Escape Dynamics’ team and conform to the highest levels of performance and efficiency.

The primary application for the high power microwave system in our lab is to provide power to a wireless energy transfer system that delivers a microwave beam to externally powered engines. The beam is converted in the engine into a highly efficient, combustion-free thrust.

EDI is currently developing a 500kW CW system at 92.3GHz designed to fully support the needs of an orbital launch facility.


Key benefits of external propulsion:
* Space launch vehicles become fully and rapidly reusable.
* Cost per launch can eventually be reduced to $150 per kg.
* The need for combustion is eliminated, leading to safer and simpler launch vehicles.
* Small satellites can be launched as primary payloads allowing higher degree of flexibility for customers.

Escape Dynamics is developing the first single-stage-to-orbit, reusable launch vehicle powered with external propulsion. In external propulsion energy required for launch is delivered from a ground-based phased array of microwave antennas designed to safely and efficiently beam flight-sustaining power to the space plane during the ascent and acceleration to orbital velocity. The energy is converted into thrust in a heat exchanger which absorbs microwaves into heat and couples the energy into the flow of hydrogen propellant. The heated hydrogen is exhausted through the nozzle creating thrust and accelerating the vehicle.

Externally powered engines designed by Escape Dynamics operate with specific impulse above 750s and propellant mass fraction below 72% (compared to almost 90% of chemical rockets) and for the first time enable reusable single-stage-to-orbit flight.

Escape Dynamics (EDI) is an advanced technology company developing electromagnetically-powered, reusable, single stage to orbit flight systems and is innovating in core technologies required for next generation aerospace systems such as wireless energy transfer, high power microwaves, and next generation propulsion and materials. The company was co-founded by Richard F. Schaden and a team of Caltech scientists with Dr. Dmitriy Tseliakhovich leading the way. Laetitia Garriott joint the founding team in 2014.

SOURCE - Escape Dynamics, Space News, Youtube

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