Overview and outline of Mass-Driver TwoAn overview of the Princeton-M.I.T. second mass-driver is presented. Mass-Driver Two is a 13.1 cm caliber system which uses a two coil superconducting bucket and a two-phase in quadrature drive system. Discrete drive coils are individually energized with timing supplied by position-sensing optical detectors. Intermediate energy storage is provided by sector capacitors which are recharged every half cycle by an external power source. A vacuum environment is provided for the superconducting bucket by a 4 inch ID glass pipe with the drive coils surrounding it. Magnetic flight is generated by eddy current repulsion from six copper guide strips lining the glass pipe. The length is 2.5 meters equally divided between acceleration and deceleration sections. Nominal acceleration is 5000 m/sec per sec giving a maximum bucket velocity of 112 m/sec. Regenerative braking is used to decelerate the bucket. Current densities of 25 sq cm are achieved in the superconducting bucket coils and are maintained by a cryogenic service station.
Document ID
19790050824
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Oneill, G. K. (Princeton Univ. NJ, United States)
Snow, W. R. (Princeton University Princeton, N.J., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1979
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 79-1396
Meeting Information
Meeting: Princeton University and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Conference on Space Manufacturing Facilities, 4th, Princeton University