Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion (M2P2) • R. M. Winglee, G. K. Parks, M. McCarthy Geophysics Program, Univ. of Washington
• J. Slough, T. Ziemba Aeronautics and Astronautics, Uni. Of Washington
• J. Burch Southwest Research Institute
• A. Goodson Boeing Corporation NIAC March 25, 1999
Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion (M2P2) • Facilitate High Speed Spacecraft For the Exploration of the Solar System and Beyond
• Enabling Technology Exists Today to attain 50-80 km/s in 3 month accel. period
• Immediate Return to NASA Missions - Interstellar Probe Precusor race Voyager 1 out of the Solar System - Geostorm - Solar Wind Monitoring
- Sun Synchronous Orbiter - Mercury Orbiter
Standoff Distance : 10 m Inner Radius
(Solar Wind - 500 km/s @ 6 particles/cc) Standoff Distance (m) Standoff Distance (m)
1.E+055 10
1.E+044 10
1.E+03 103 0 tilt 45 tilt extrapolation
1.E+02 102
101 1.E+01 1.E+03 103
Simple Dipole
1.E+04 104
1.E+05 105 Bcoil (nT) Bcoil (nT)
1.E+06 106
1.E+07 107
Thrust (N)
10
1 MPD
M2P2
Electrothermal Arcjet
.1 Resistojet
Ion
.01
100
1,000
10,000
Specific Impulse (sec)
100,000
M2P2 Lab. Prototype
Gas Feed Thru
Copper Housing Coil Connections Stainless Enclosure for Helicon Source Helicon Source Coil
Magnetic Coil (25 cm OD)
Quartz Tube (5 cm OD) Potting Material
Quartz End Plug
Force Exerted by Solar Wind (mN)
0.6 N per 100 kg
50 km/s in 3 months
Force exerted by Solar Wind (mN)
1.E+03 103 1.E+02 102
1.E+01 101 1.E+00 100
0 tilt - Radial 45 tilt - Radial
1.E-01 10-1
45 tilt - Azimuth Extrapolate - Radial Extrapolate - Azimuth
1.E-02 10-2 -4 10 1.E-04
-3 -2 -1 0 10 10 10 10 1.E-03 Force from 1.E-02 Plasma1.E-01 Source (mN) 1.E+00
1 10 1.E+01
Force from Plasma Source (mN) M2P2 : 1 mN Expended : 400 mN For Acceleration
Near Future Solar Sails (e.g Geostorm)
M2P2 15- 30 km
40 - 70 m
Momentum Flux :
1 nN/m2
4.7 uN/m2
Total Force :
0.6 -3 N
0.025 - 0.075 N
Weigh :
20 - 40 kg
100 kg
Power :
3 kW
0W
Method :
Electromagnetic
Mechanical
Interstellar Wind
Heliopause : End of the Plasma Solar System
Voyager 1: Launched 1978
Termination Shock: Subsonic Solar Wind Solar Wind
Formation of a Magnetic Wall Supersonic Solar Wind (400 - 1000 km/s)
Magnetic Wall •15 - 30 km radius
Streamlines & Contours of density
•ElectromagneticPlasma Interaction •Not Mechanical •Constant Force Surface
Creating A Mini-Magnetosphere Magnetic Field + Plasma Injection = Strong Solar Wind Coupling IMF
Bow Shock
Plasma Injection Solar Wind
Spacecraft Magnetic Field
Dipole : B ~ R
-3
Current Sheet : B ~ R -1
Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion • STRONG COUPLING through Plasma Injection + Magnetic Field to the Solar Wind (400 - 1000 km/s) Azimuthal : Inner Solar System Radial : Outer Solar System • Constant Force is attained irrespective of position in the Solar System • Enabling Technology Exists
Helicon Plasma Sources Propellant Storage Magnetic Coil
Status of Present Work -Completed computer simulations showing feasibility -Lab. Prototype fully designed and being constructed Near-Future -Demonstrate magnetic wall inflation Small Tank (factor of 2) Large Tank (factor of 10) -Specify spacecraft mission for proof of principle goal of 50-80 km/s in 3 months -Facilitate exploration of outer solar system Long Term - Constant power supply for 1 yr allow 200-320 km/s -Utilization of Dusty Plasma would allow propulsion by Solar Photons without the need for mechanical struts with unprecedented area to attain 10,000 km/s