The West Midlands Branch Presents
Laser Ignition of Hybrid Rocket Motors
Speaker: Emily Creedy
Date: Saturday 15th June 2024
Start Time: 14:00
End Time: 15:15
Venue: via Zoom
The majority of hybrid rocket motors are limited to single-use ignition. Our goal is to use LASER technology to develop a motor with the capability for multiple ignitions at any stage of the flight. While it has been proposed that approximately 10 re-ignitions would qualify the motor for a mission to Mars, our two-year testing plan is aimed at achieving a target of around 40 consecutive hot fires.
Several research papers focusing on LASER ignition have identified an ignition delay. The primary objective of our project is to address this challenge through experiments involving various materials, LASER systems, and LASER positioning. A 2020 paper authored by Caltech suggested installing the LASER in the combustion chamber nozzle, which is likely to be our initial configuration pending health and safety approvals.
This information is subject to change and a synopsis and pictures will be provided closer to the talk conference date.
Caltech paper: Diode Laser Ignition of a Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) and Gaseous Oxygen Hybrid Motor
Meeting Timetable
13:55 – The meeting is available to join
14:00 Welcome
14:05 Laser Ignition of Hybrid Rocket Motors by Emily Creedy
14:45 (ish) – Questions and Answers (we enable everyone’s microphone to allow an interactive Q&A session)
Joining instructions
1. Register for the Talk
2. Before the event, we will send you an email with the joining link for the meeting.
3. On the day, click meeting link (and follow the on-screen instructions to install Zoom if prompted)
This event will be recorded!
The Conference Call and Q&A sessions will be recorded (which may capture your name, picture, voice or video) and can be used via the West Midlands Facebook group, BIS HQ website, and official BIS social media channels for information, promotion, and publicity.
Please Note: By registering, you are consenting to the BIS and any of its official channels, using this recording in the public domain.
