3 ms·
Could it "scoop" matter out of the atmosphere that could be accelerated by solar or nuclear powered ion drive to use as propellant? Alternatively, thinking abo
by tech_yogi 7y ago
Could it "scoop" matter out of the atmosphere that could be accelerated by solar or nuclear powered ion drive to use as propellant?
Alternatively, thinking about the Earth's magnetic field, what if it had a big current loop that could be activated to generate a force and change orbit.
I realize that the magnitude of these effects are probably too small to be significant, but could you in principle use them to repeatedly change orbit around earth, provided you have an abundant energy source?
- eesmith 7y agoscoop? no. magnetic field? yes. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrodynamic_tether https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrodynamic_tether
- m4rtink 7y agoUnlikely it can scoop material and use it for propulsion just yet, though I have seen some articles about ion engines accelerating the rarified upper atmosphere being studied.
- _Microft 7y agoThe ESA is developing an air-breathing electric thruster which sounds what you described: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology/World-first_firing_of_air-breathing_electric_thruster http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technolo...