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Combination Solar Sail and Electrodynamic Tether Propulsion SystemA propulsion system for a spacecraft includes a solar sail system and an electrodynamic tether system is presented. The solar sail system is used to generate propulsion to propel the spacecraft through space using solar photons and the electrodynamic tether system is used to generate propulsion to steer the spacecraft into orbit and to perform orbital maneuvers around a planet using the planet's magnetic field. The electrodynamic tether system can also be used to generate power for the spacecraft using the planet's magnetic field.
Document ID
20030068300
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Other - Patent
External Source(s)
MFS-31503
Authors
Charles L. Johnson
(Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, United States)
Gregory L. Matloff
(Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
May 20, 2003
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Patent
US-Patent-6,565,044
Patent Application
US-Patent-Appl-SN-097698
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