Primary analysis for performance of laser propulsion with water propellant

Experimental study on performance of laser-generated ablation propulsion is carried out with a set of system with which information of both flux-field and thrust loading can be gathered at the same time. Two phenomenons with obvious different characters are observed, which are water ablation and laser-induced air-breakdown with water as an induction. Developing speed is faster with water ablation than that with air-breakdown. Amplitude of thrust curve, impulse coupling coefficient and rate of energy conversion are about 10 times higher gained by water ablation compared with those obtained by air-breakdown. But special impulse of both phenomenons is close to the same value. The results are valuable for development of laser-induced ablation propulsion with water propellant.