Abstract: For providing a propulsion device particularly for a spacecraft, comprising a plasma chamber in which a plasma can be produced in a propellant, and a focussing arrangement for focussing an electromagnetic radiation field into a focussing region in the plasma chamber in order to produce the plasma, the propulsion device being highly efficient and controllable, it is proposed to arrange in the plasma chamber a plasma ignition arrangement whereby a material which lowers the plasma breakdown threshold in the propellant can be brought into the focussing region.

Abstract: For providing a propulsion device particularly for a spacecraft, comprising a plasma chamber in which a plasma can be produced in a propellant, and a focussing arrangement for focussing an electromagnetic radiation field into a focussing region in the plasma chamber in order to produce the plasma, the propulsion device being highly efficient and controllable, it is proposed to arrange in the plasma chamber a plasma ignition arrangement whereby a material which lowers the plasma breakdown threshold in the propellant can be brought into the focussing region.

Abstract: In order to improve a generator for generating a product gas by means of a chemical reaction between an educt gas and a liquid, comprising a closed reaction chamber with a liquid supply, a liquid discharge, an educt gas supply, a product gas discharge, a liquid bath arranged within the reaction chamber and a substrate member arranged for rotation in the reaction chamber, the axis of rotation of this substrate member being arranged such that during a rotation of the substrate member at least part of the surface of the substrate member alternatingly dips into the liquid bath and emerges from the liquid bath wetted by the liquid, such that a motor arranged outside the reaction chamber for rotating the substrate member can be dispensed with and the requirement of a pressure-tight passage for a drive shaft of the substrate member through a wall of the reaction chamber is not applicable it is suggested that the generator comprise a flow generator for generating a continuous flow of the liquid in the reaction chambe

Abstract: In order to improve an oxygen-iodine laser comprising a reaction unit for the generation of a gas stream composed of excited oxygen by chemical reaction between a reaction liquid and a reaction gas, a steam trap with a condensation chamber, in which steam entrained by the gas stream is condensed onto cold surfaces, an iodine injector, which injects iodine into the gas stream to generate a laser-active gas mixture, and a laser resonator with the laser-active gas mixture flowing through it, in such a way as to obtain a gas stream as free from steam as possible using the simplest possible means, it is proposed that the cold surfaces for separation of the steam are formed by liquid surfaces of a condensation liquid moved in the condensation chamber.

Abstract: To provide a method and a device for removing a piece of debris moving in space at an orbital velocity in an orbit about the earth which function as simply as possible and are economical, it is proposed that the piece of debris be irradiated with radiation to bring about vaporization of the debris material, and that the piece of debris be removed from its orbit about the earth by the vaporization of the material, and that the device comprise a radiation source for generating the radiation which brings about the vaporization of the debris material, and that an aiming means be provided for applying the radiation to the piece of debris moving in the orbit about the earth.

Abstract: Disclosure is directed to an apparatus for producing a microwave discharge n a supersonic gas flow such that the available microwave energy is deposited in the gas as completely and uniformly as possible through a substantial cross-section of the flow channel. The flow channel is provided within a waveguide and microwave energy is caused to be propagated through the waveguide substantially in the direction of the gas flow. A supersonic nozzle is provided in the channel dividing the channel into an upstream plenum and a downstream low pressure region, and the electric discharge occurs in the low pressure region just beyond the nozzle throat.