Reactor-pumped laser facility at DOE's Nevada Test Site

Ronald J. Lipinski

doi:10.1117/12.174182

1 May 1994 Reactor-pumped laser facility at DOE's Nevada Test Site

Ronald J. Lipinski

Proceedings Volume 2121, Laser Power Beaming; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.174182
Event: OE/LASE '94, 1994, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

The Nevada Test Site (NTS) is one excellent possibility for a laser power beaming site. It is in the low latitudes of the U.S., is in an exceptionally cloud-free area of the southwest, is already an area of restricted access (which enhances safety considerations), and possesses a highly skilled technical team with extensive engineering and research capabilities from underground testing of our nation's nuclear deterrence. The average availability of cloud-free clear line of site to a given point in space is about 84%. With a beaming angle of +/- 60 degree(s) from the zenith, about 52 geostationary-orbit (GEO) satellites could be accessed continuously from NTS. In addition, the site would provide an average view factor of about 10% for orbital transfer from low earth orbit to GEO. One of the major candidates for a long-duration, high- power laser is a reactor-pumped laser being developed by DOE. The extensive nuclear expertise at NTS makes this site a prime candidate for utilizing the capabilities of a rector pumped laser for power beaming. The site then could be used for many dual-use roles such as industrial material processing research, defense testing, and removing space debris.

Citation Download Citation

Ronald J. Lipinski "Reactor-pumped laser facility at DOE's Nevada Test Site", Proc. SPIE 2121, Laser Power Beaming, (1 May 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.174182

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