Electrodynamic tethers for reboost of the International Space Station and spacecraft propulsion

Johnson, Les; Carroll, Joseph A.; Estes, R. D.; Lorenzini, Enrico; Gilchrist, Brian E.; Martı́nez-Sánchez, Manuel; Sanmartin, J. R.; Vas, I. E.

doi:10.2514/6.1996-4250

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…An anodic segment in the kilometer range could lead to quite large (in addition to effective) collecting areas. A NASA experiment, Propulsive Small Expendable Deployment System (ProSEDS), will test bare tether collection in a 1999, Delta 2 flight; Marshall Space Flight Center is considering the use of bare tethers in the International Space Station, for reboost or peak power generation [Johnson et al, 1996]. As a power generator, a bare tether Copyright 1997 by the American Geophysical Union.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial auroral effects from a bare conducting tether

Martı́nez-Sánchez¹,

Sanmartin²

1997

J. Geophys. Res.

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Abstract. An electrically floating metallic bare tether in a low Earth orbit would be highly negative with respect to the ambient plasma over most of its length, and would be bombarded by ambient ions. This would liberate secondary electrons, which, after acceleration through the same voltage, would form a magnetically guided two-sided planar e beam, and result in auroral effects (ionization and light emission) upon impact on the atmospheric E layer, at about 120-140 km altitude. This paper examines in a preliminary way the feasibili.ty of using this effect as an upper atmospheric probe. Ionization rates can reach up to 105 cm '3 s '• if a tape, instead of a wire, is used as tether. Contrary to standard e beams, the beam from the tether is free of spacecraft charging and plasma interaction problems, and its energy flux varies across the cross section, which is quite large; this would make possible continuous observation from the satellite, with high resolution, both spectral and vertical, of the induced optical emissions. Ground observation might be possible at latitudes around 40 ø , for night, magnetically quiet conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial auroral effects from a bare conducting tether

Martı́nez-Sánchez¹,

Sanmartin²

1997

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…ProSEDS will be the first tether mission to produce electrodynamic thrust, use a bare ,_,_me_o_d_._,o_, wire tether, and recharge mission batteries " _"_°_'°_"_'_' ..... using tether-generated power. Figure 6) could be used on the International Space Station (ISS) to supply a reboost thrust of 0.5-0.8N, thus saving up to 6000kg of propellant per year (Johnson 1996). The reduction of propellant needed to reboost the ISS equates to a $2B savings over it's 10 year lifetime (Johnson 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Figure 6) could be used on the International Space Station (ISS) to supply a reboost thrust of 0.5-0.8N, thus saving up to 6000kg of propellant per year (Johnson 1996). The reduction of propellant needed to reboost the ISS equates to a $2B savings over it's 10 year lifetime (Johnson 1996). The ProSEDS mission will demonstrate and validate the production of power in space using a bare wire tether which produces drag thrust propulsion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%