Development of Microwave Rocket as a space mass transportation system

An air-breathing pulse-detonation engine powered by microwave energy beaming, “Microwave Rocket” is considered as a future mass transportation system to space. A key to realize Microwave Rocket is to achieve high air-breathing performance. We are now developing the system using side-wall reed valves which is expected to minimize ventilation period. A test chamber equipped with a reed valve was fabricated and the ventilated volume flow rate was measured. CFD was also conducted. As a result, it came out that pressure oscillation frequency inside the thruster was approximately in inverse proportion to the thruster length. It was also found that there is minimum thruster aspect ratio where complete ventilation can be accomplished.