Development of a laser ignition system for a solid rocket motor on the OMOTENASHI spacecraft

Naoki Morishita; Yoshimichi Sago; Kiyoyuki Watanabe; Hiroyuki Sasayama; Yasuhiro Ike; Akiyoshi Hayakawa; Hiroshi Sumida; Hirokazu Takuma; Junji Kikuchi; Ryo Hirasawa; Keiichi Hori; Tatsuaki Hashimoto

doi:10.34571/stem.83.2_59

Naoki Morishita , Yoshimichi Sago, Kiyoyuki Watanabe, Hiroyuki Sasayama, Yasuhiro Ike, Akiyoshi Hayakawa, Hiroshi Sumida, Hirokazu Takuma, Junji Kikuchi, Ryo Hirasawa, Keiichi Hori, Tatsuaki Hashimoto

Author information

Naoki Morishita [Japan] Corresponding author
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa, 252-5210 [Japan]
Yoshimichi Sago [Japan]
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI), 1 Kawasaki-cho, Kagamigahara-shi, Gifu, 504-8710 [Japan]
Kiyoyuki Watanabe [Japan]
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI), 1 Kawasaki-cho, Kagamigahara-shi, Gifu, 504-8710 [Japan]
Hiroyuki Sasayama [Japan]
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI), 1 Kawasaki-cho, Kagamigahara-shi, Gifu, 504-8710 [Japan]
Yasuhiro Ike [Japan]
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI), 1 Kawasaki-cho, Kagamigahara-shi, Gifu, 504-8710 [Japan]
Akiyoshi Hayakawa [Japan]
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI), 1 Kawasaki-cho, Kagamigahara-shi, Gifu, 504-8710 [Japan]
Hiroshi Sumida [Japan]
NOF Corporation, 61-1 Kitakomatsudani, Taketoyo-cho, Chita-gun, Aichi, 470-2379 [Japan]
Hirokazu Takuma [Japan]
NOF Corporation, 61-1 Kitakomatsudani, Taketoyo-cho, Chita-gun, Aichi, 470-2379 [Japan]
Junji Kikuchi [Japan]
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa, 252-5210 [Japan]
Ryo Hirasawa [Japan]
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa, 252-5210 [Japan]
Keiichi Hori [Japan]
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa, 252-5210 [Japan]
Tatsuaki Hashimoto [Japan]
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa, 252-5210 [Japan]

Keywords: laser ignition, solid rocket motor, OMOTENASHI

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2022 Volume 83 Issue 2 Pages 59-64

DOI https://doi.org/10.34571/stem.83.2_59

Details

Abstract

This paper reports the development of a laser ignition system for a super-small solid rocket motor to be used in the OMOTENASHI, a 6U-CubeSat that is the smallest lunar lander ever. A safe, compact, lightweight, and optimized system using a laser diode was developed to ignite the rocket motor. The development was successful, and the spacecraft equipped with the laser ignition system was delivered to NASA. The laser ignition system will be the first one for a spacecraft going on a deep space exploration.

Corresponding author

Register with J-STAGE for free!