AAWSAP DIRD, Laser Lightcraft Nanosatellites, November 2010

This Defense Intelligence Reference Document (DIA-08-1011-001), dated 1 November 2010, was prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency's Defense Warning Office under the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications program. It covers nanosatellite technologies, laser Lightcraft propulsion, a weapon mission selection study and a multi-megawatt laser study. The author recommends that the Department of Defense, working with NASA, bring laser Lightcraft propulsion research back to the United States and restart the Air Force X-50LR test flight program.

From the source:Release of 2026-09-18 Incident: 11/1/10, Las Vegas, Nevada. Released with redactions. This document is a Defense Intelligence Reference Document (DIRD), a technical reference format used by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to capture baseline knowledge on a specific topic for later analytic use. DIRDs are best understood as reference and synthesis products rather than as original research. It is one of 38 DIRDs produced under the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP) between 2009 and 2011. Because AAWSAP’s scope permitted a broad range of supporting topics, not every DIRD in the series directly concerns aerospace systems or future threat assessment. The following summary reflects the DIRD’s scope and framing at the time of writing and should not be read as implying current validation of the concepts discussed. This DIRD examines laser-propelled “Lightcraft” as a possible low-cost method to launch very small satellites into low Earth orbit by using a remote high-energy laser to supply most of the propulsion energy rather than relying entirely on onboard energy sources. The report combines a survey of nanosatellite trends with a review of “Lightcraft” propulsion concepts, vehicle design, beam-control requirements, and mission studies, and argues that the most promising application is the launch of nano- or pico-satellites, especially Earth- and space-observing payloads of a few kilograms or less. It presents the concept as potentially much cheaper than conventional multistage rockets for very small payloads, while also noting significant practical constraints including strict beam-riding geometry, atmospheric losses, demanding pointing and adaptive-optics requirements, and heavy dependence on large ground-, sea-, or air-based laser infrastructure. Overall, the document presents laser “Lightcraft” as a technically plausible launch concept whose attractiveness depends on whether the supporting laser and beam-control system can be made reliable and economical at operational scale.

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which usually result in mirror tilts (~ O to 400 micro-radians) and drastically
reduced beam power, thus maintaining beam power output at maximum design
value.
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Figure 32. High-Power FEL Optical Resonator {courtesy of the Naval Post-Graduate School
FEL Lab).
ESTIMATED PAYLOAD COST FOR LIGHTCRAFT LAUNCH USING A 10
MW BSSSL, HPFL, OR RBFEL SYSTEM
No detailed Lightcraft nano- or pico-satellite payload launch cost estimates can be
performed at this t ime because the high-power solid-state and FEL laser devices are
emergent technologies still under development and testing; operational deployment is
expected to take place within the next two to five years depending on near-future
funding and programmatics. However, Table 1 shows that the average cost to launch a
laser-propelled Lightcraft (including payload) to LEO is $3,052 per kg. This figure was
based on operations, life-cycle, and maintenance costs plus the cost of using a high
power bulk solid-state laser system that is 50% shared with another user.
The cost estimates shown in Table 1 were compiled in 2003, so this (average) launch
cost estimate will likely go down significantly at present (possibly by 20% or more) due
to significantly increased system efficiencies realized within each of these emergent
advanced laser technologies, reduced system costs due to widespread acceptance,
operational deployment along with dual-use commercialization, and system costs that
trend downward as technology matures over time, etc. IPG Photonics sells their
industrial HPFL systems (e.g., see Figure 27) for prices ranging from $50,000 to
$500,000 depending on the beam power (higher beam power= higher price) and
system application. Based on these factors, a simple back-of-the-envelope cost
estimate for Lightcraft launch of a payload to LEO is approximately $100 to $300 per
kg, ** while the average cost to launch a laser-propelled Lightcraft (including payload) to
LEO will be approximately $800 to $2,000 per kg which includes the operations, life
cycle, maintenance, and laser system costs. An in-depth study will be needed to obtain
more precise cost estimates for Lightcraft launch using BSSSL, HPFL, and RBFEL
systems.
HIGH ENERGY LASER BEAM CONTROL
.. Costs could be reduced to as low as $20 per kg of payload if Buckytubes are used to construct the Lightcraft.
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