Method of recovery of optical fiber expended during launch of a spacecraft into low earth orbit using a non-line-of-sight optical power transfer system
A method of recovery of optical fiber expended during a parabolic launch trajectory of a spacecraft is disclosed. An optical fiber adapted for transmission of high optical energy sufficient to launch the spacecraft is connected at one end to the spacecraft and is released during launching of the spacecraft. The optical fiber expended from the spacecraft is then engaged by a drum spooler following launch of the spacecraft and the fiber has been fully spooled out by the spacecraft. The optical fiber is then reeled in prior to the fiber contacting the Earth. The recovered optical fiber is then collected for processing, cleaning and rewinding for future use of subsequent series of launches for as many times as possible.
1. A method of recovery of optical fiber expended during the flight of a launched spacecraft, said method comprising the steps of:
affixing a first high energy connector to a drum spooler, said first high energy connector optically connected to said launched spacecraft;
releasing an optical fiber connected at one end to said launched spacecraft from said launched spacecraft at a predetermined altitude reached by said launched spacecraft at a predetermined time from when said launched spacecraft is launched, said optical fiber adapted for transmission of high optical energy in the range of kilowatts to tens of megawatts and having a length of at least 100 kilometers;
engaging said optical fiber expended from said launched spacecraft to said drum spooler following the launching of said launched spacecraft, said engaging of said optical fiber commencing once said optical fiber has been fully released by said launched spacecraft; and
collecting said optical fiber for processing, cleaning and rewinding for future use, said collecting of said optical fiber completed prior to said optical fiber contacting the ground.
2. The method of recovery of optical fiber, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said collecting step is performed by the rotation of said drum spooler.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said drum spooler is servo-controlled.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said drum spooler is actively cooled.
5. A method of recovery of optical fiber expended during the flight of a launched spacecraft, said method comprising the steps of:
connecting a first end of a first optical fiber to a spacecraft;
connecting a second end of the first optical fiber to a first high energy connecter rigidly affixed to a drum spooler;
connecting a second high energy connecter to the first high energy connector;
connecting a first end of a second optical fiber to the second high energy connector and a second end of the second optical fiber to a laser;
providing optical power from the laser to the spacecraft via the first and second optical fibers sufficient to launch the spacecraft;
the spacecraft carrying the first end of the first optical fiber away from earth;
releasing the connection between the first end of the first optical fiber and the spacecraft and allowing the first end of the first optical fiber to begin falling back towards earth;
disconnecting first high power connector from the second high power connector;
rotating the drum spooler to collect the first optical fiber;
collecting the first optical fiber on the drum spooler; and
connecting the first end of the collected first optical fiber to the spacecraft.