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Students Explore Future Flight at Beamed Energy Propulsion Symposium Rensselaer recently hosted the Third International Symposium on Beamed Energy Propulsion (BEP), bringing together some of the world's leading experts working to transform BEP concepts into future space transportation systems. Students from Rensselaer's Space Society showcased their work at the symposium.
BEP systems are designed to be smaller, lighter, faster, and more efficient than existing means of transportation. BEP technology uses several types of energy sources, including lasers, microwaves, and X-rays. Each of these energy sources provides propulsive characteristics that cannot be obtained through traditional, combustion-based engines Myrabo's research focuses on the design and development of light crafts using laser beams to fuel the engines and accelerate the crafts into orbit. He predicts that a manned test flight using beamed energy propulsion is possible in the next five to 10 years. Students in the Rensselaer Space Society (RSS) are working with Myrabo to construct a model of a flight simulator for one of his designs. A section of the students' prototype, called the Mercury light craft project, was on display at the conference. The one-person light craft is similar in size and shape to the Mercury capsule used in America's first manned space flight. "We are building a life-size model of Professor Myrabo's research using the same techniques used to construct many modern aircraft and spacecraft today. This model will eventually become a flight simulator to demonstrate how the vehicle would operate and mimic what a pilot would experience when flying a craft that uses laser beams for its energy source," said Brian Smith, vice president of the RSS, leader of the Mercury light craft project, and third-year aerospace and mechanical engineering student at Rensselaer. "It's exciting to have our work on display and have the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts in the field," said Smith. "Our efforts could help change the course of space travel forever." The goal of the RSS is to promote space development, exploration, and inhabitation by raising public awareness and serving as a resource for all those in the Rensselaer community interested in such topics. For more information on the RSS, visit http://rss.union.rpi.edu/. |
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 110 8th St., Troy, NY 12180. (518) 276-6000 |