| タイトル | Electrodynamic tethers. I - Power generation in LEO. II - Thrust for propulsion & power storage |
| 著者（英） | Mccoy, J. E. |
| 著者所属（英） | NASA Johnson Space Center |
| 発行日 | 1984-10-01 |
| 言語 | eng |
| 内容記述 | The power gain and thrust for plasma engines available by unreeling 10 km of insulated Al wire from a spacecraft are investigated. The wire, unreeling in the vertical, would cut the earth's magnetic field lines, thereby generating 20 kW of power in the wire. A drag loss of 20.4 kJ/sec would reduce the power gain to 18.7 kW, an efficiency of 92 percent. Thicker wires could push the power gain to 1 MW at 95 percent efficiency. Conductive 'balloons' at the ends of the tether would function as ionospheric 'brushes' to complete the circuit. Reversing the IXB force by employing on-board stored power would drive the tether current against the induced voltage, providing a 1 N thrust for 8 kW of energy consumed, which could be supplied by solar panels during the day portion of orbit. The equivalent thrust by conventional stationkeeping means would consume 8000 kg of propellant/yr. Techniques for stabilizing the tether in the presence of variable magnetic fields are discussed. |
| NASA分類 | SPACECRAFT PROPULSION AND POWER |
| レポートNO | 85A13280
IAF PAPER 84-440 |
| 権利 | Copyright |
|
