Michaelis, MMForbes, AKlopper, WBencherif, HJolivet, SMoorgawa, RMcKenzie, ETurner, G2007-07-232007-07-232006-07Michaelis, MM, et al. 2006. Laser propulsion activity in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, vol. 102, pp 296-3000038-2353http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1015Copyright: 2006 Academy of Science of South AfricaThree sets of laser propulsion experiments have been conducted in South Africa. The first, on the MLIS kilowatt CO2 laser at Pelindaba, gave a surprisingly good result but could not be repeated after the laser chain was dismantled when South Africa’s uranium isotope programme was closed. The second, conducted with a kilowatt CO2 laser module, produced unexpectedly weak propulsion. The reasons for the discrepancy between the two experiments are given. In the third experiment, hybrid solar and laser propulsion was tested: laser momentum coupling was enhanced as a result of generation of a dusty plasma by the concentrated solar energy.enLaser propulsionMLIS kilowatt CO2 laserLow earth orbitLEOMolecular laser isotope separationArticleMichaelis, M., Forbes, A., Klopper, W., Bencherif, H., Jolivet, S., Moorgawa, R., ... Turner, G. (2006). Laser propulsion activity in South Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1015Michaelis, MM, A Forbes, W Klopper, H Bencherif, S Jolivet, R Moorgawa, E McKenzie, and G Turner "Laser propulsion activity in South Africa." (2006) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1015Michaelis M, Forbes A, Klopper W, Bencherif H, Jolivet S, Moorgawa R, et al. Laser propulsion activity in South Africa. 2006; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1015.TY - Article AU - Michaelis, MM AU - Forbes, A AU - Klopper, W AU - Bencherif, H AU - Jolivet, S AU - Moorgawa, R AU - McKenzie, E AU - Turner, G AB - Three sets of laser propulsion experiments have been conducted in South Africa. The first, on the MLIS kilowatt CO2 laser at Pelindaba, gave a surprisingly good result but could not be repeated after the laser chain was dismantled when South Africa’s uranium isotope programme was closed. The second, conducted with a kilowatt CO2 laser module, produced unexpectedly weak propulsion. The reasons for the discrepancy between the two experiments are given. In the third experiment, hybrid solar and laser propulsion was tested: laser momentum coupling was enhanced as a result of generation of a dusty plasma by the concentrated solar energy. DA - 2006-07 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Laser propulsion KW - MLIS kilowatt CO2 laser KW - Low earth orbit KW - LEO KW - Molecular laser isotope separation LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2006 SM - 0038-2353 T1 - Laser propulsion activity in South Africa TI - Laser propulsion activity in South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1015 ER -