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Electrodynamic Tethers for Spacecraft PropulsionRelatively short electrodynamic tethers can use solar power to 'push' against a planetary magnetic field to achieve propulsion without the expenditure of propellant. The groundwork has been laid for this type of propulsion. NASA began developing tether technology for space applications in the 1960's. Important recent milestones include retrieval of a tether in space (TSS-1, 1992), successful deployment of a 20-km-long tether in space (SEDS-1, 1993), and operation of an electrodynamic tether with tether current driven in both directions-power and thrust modes (PMG, 1993). The planned Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS) experiment will demonstrate electrodynamic tether thrust during its flight in early 2000. ProSEDS will use the flight-proven Small Expendable Deployer System (SEDS) to deploy a 5 km bare copper tether from a Delta II upper stage to achieve approximately 0.4 N drag thrust, thus deorbiting the stage. The experiment will use a predominantly 'bare' tether for current collection in lieu of the endmass collector and insulated tether approach used on previous missions. Theory and ground-based plasma chamber testing indicate that the bare tether is a highly-efficient current collector. The flight experiment is a precursor to utilization of the technology on the International Space Station for reboost application and the more ambitious electrodynamic tether upper stage demonstration mission which will be capable of orbit raising, lowering and inclination changes - all using electrodynamic thrust. In addition, the use of this type of propulsion may be attractive for future missions at Jupiter and any other planetary body with a magnetosphere.
Document ID
19990107381
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Johnson, Les
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Estes, Robert D.
(Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Cambridge, MA United States)
Lorenzini, Enrico
(Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Cambridge, MA United States)
Martinez-Sanchez, Manuel
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA United States)
Sanmartin, Juan
(Madrid Polytechnic Univ. Madrid Spain)
Vas, Irwin
(Boeing Defense and Space Group Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
October 10, 1998
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Meeting Information
Meeting: Aerospace Sciences
Location: Reno, NV
Country: United States
Start Date: January 12, 1998
End Date: January 15, 1998
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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