Colloquium: Diogo Gomes (Space Flight)

Beam-powered thermal propulsion, utilizing an external energy beam to heat a propellant, is a promising alternative to traditional propulsion systems. This research contributes to the numerical and experimental development of this technology, analyzing the receiver-absorber cavity (RAC) performance and its optimization. Accurate prediction tools for absorbed beam power by the RAC are developed, added to an existing performance tool, and a new spatial tool is initiated. Efficiency optimization tools are developed and analysed with an example case study. The experimental component involves designing, manufacturing, and testing a prototype thruster, including leak testing, test bench calibration, and cold flow tests. Results are compared with numerical predictions to assess model accuracy.

Supervisor: Irc. Barry Zandbergen