A laser beam is directed at a surface portion of a mass of high explosive to melt and/or vaporize the surface portion while directing a flow of gas at the melted and/or vaporized surface portion. Method for laser machining explosives and related articles. Method for laser machining explosives and ordnance While this program does not generically qualify LIO for all applications, it demonstrated the safety, technical, and operational feasibility of those two most demanding applications, using an all solid state safe and arm system in critical flight applications. This paper concentrates on accomplishments of the ordnance aspects of the program and on the program's implementation and results. The launch accomplished all mission objectives in less than 11 months from proposal receipt. The hardware was fully qualified for this mission, including component testing as well as a full-scale system test. A flight LIO system was designed, built, tested, and flown to support the objectives of quickly and inexpensively putting LIO through ground and flight operational paces. LIO flight hardware, made by The Ensign-Bickford Company under NASA's first Cooperative Agreement with Profit Making Organizations, safely initiated three demanding pyrotechnic sequence events, namely, solid rocket motor ignition from the ground and in flight, and flight termination, i.e., as a Flight Termination System (FTS). This project, Phase 3 of a series of three NASA Headquarters LIO demonstration initiatives, accomplished its objective by the flight of a dedicated, all-LIO sounding rocket mission using a two-stage Nike-Orion launch vehicle. The first launch of solid state laser diode LIO at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) occurred on Mawith all mission objectives accomplished. Concerns over the absence of programmatic applications of the technology, which has prevented acceptance by flight programs, should be abated since LIO has now been operationally implemented by the Laser Initiated Ordnance Sounding Rocket Demonstration (LOSRD) Program. Solid State Laser Initiated Ordnance (LIO) offers new technology having potential for enhanced safety, reduced costs, and improved operational efficiency. A complete system description, summary of the analyses, the qualification test results, and the results of flight are included.įlight demonstration of flight termination system and solid rocket motor ignition using semiconductor laser initiated ordnance Discussions include initial program concept, contract implementation, team member responsibilities, analysis results, vehicle integration, safing architecture, ordnance interfaces, mission timeline and telemetry data. The hardware was tested to the requirements of the Pegasus launch vehicle and integrated into the vehicle by The Ensign Bickford Company and the Orbital Sciences Corporation. The complete ordnance system comprising a laser diode firing unit, fiber optic cable assembly, laser initiated detonator, and laser initiated squib was designed and built by The Ensign Bickford Company. In addition, a laser initiated ordnance squib was fired into a pressure bomb during thrusting flight. The culmination of this effort was a flight of the Pegasus launch vehicle which had two fin rockets initiated by this laser system. The primary program goal is to bring together a team of government and industry members to develop a laser initiated ordnance system having the test and analysis pedigree to be flown on launch vehicles. Flight demonstration of laser diode initiated ordnanceĪ program has been initiated by NASA Headquarters to validate laser initiated ordnance in flight applications.
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