New Slant On Solar Sail

Trips to distant parts of the solar system could become commonplace with magnetized-beam plasma propulsion, or mag-beam, said Robert Winglee, a University of Washington professor who is leading the research. “We’re trying to get to Mars and back in 90 days,” Winglee said. “Our philosophy is that, if it’s going to take two-and-a-half years, the chances of a successful mission are pretty low.”

Under the mag-beam concept, a space-based station would generate a stream of magnetized ions that would interact with a magnetic sail on a spacecraft and propel it through the solar system at high speeds that increase with the size of the plasma beam. Winglee estimates that a control nozzle 32 meters wide would generate a plasma beam capable of propelling a spacecraft at 11.7 kilometers per second (26,000 miles an hour) or more than 625,000 miles a day.

Mars is an average of 48 million miles from Earth, though the distance can vary greatly depending on where the two planets are in their orbits around the sun. At that distance, a spacecraft traveling 625,000 miles a day would take more than 76 days to get to the red planet. But Winglee is working on ways to devise even greater speeds so the round trip could be accomplished in three months. But to make such high speeds practical, another plasma unit must be stationed on a platform at the other end of the trip to apply brakes to the spacecraft. “Rather than a spacecraft having to carry these big powerful propulsion units, you can have much smaller payloads,” he said.

Winglee envisions units being placed around the solar system by missions already planned by NASA. One could be used as an integral part of a research mission to Jupiter, for instance, and then left in orbit there when the mission is completed. Units placed farther out in the solar system would use nuclear power to create the ionized plasma; those closer to the sun would be able to use electricity generated by solar panels.

The mag-beam concept grew out of an earlier effort Winglee led to develop a system called mini-magnetospheric plasma propulsion. In that system, a plasma bubble would be created around a spacecraft and sail on the solar wind. The mag-beam concept removes reliance on the solar wind, replacing it with a plasma beam that can be controlled for strength and direction.

Winglee acknowledges that it would take an initial investment of billions of dollars to place stations around the solar system. But once they are in place, their power sources should allow them to generate plasma indefinitely. The system ultimately would reduce spacecraft costs, since individual craft would no longer have to carry their own propulsion systems. They would get up to speed quickly with a strong push from a plasma station, then coast at high speed until they reach their destination, where they would be slowed by another plasma station. “This would facilitate a permanent human presence in space,” Winglee said. “That’s what we are trying to get to.”

Pic courtesy University of Washington

, ,

Comments are closed.

Bajoran Lightship Solar Sail Eaglemoss Star Trek Starship Collection DS9 picture

Bajoran Lightship Solar Sail Eaglemoss Star Trek Starship Collection DS9

$9.99



SPACESHOTS Solar Sail Card 1991 Space Ventures Card #0208 picture

SPACESHOTS Solar Sail Card 1991 Space Ventures Card #0208

$1.59



Solar Sail Assessment for SSE Missions 2000 SAIC Rare HTF NASA picture

Solar Sail Assessment for SSE Missions 2000 SAIC Rare HTF NASA

$30.09



The Solar Sail Comic Series The Combat Trading Cards SELL SHEET (no cards)  picture

The Solar Sail Comic Series The Combat Trading Cards SELL SHEET (no cards)

$20.90



1991 Space Ventures Space Shots #208 Solar Sail picture

1991 Space Ventures Space Shots #208 Solar Sail

$1.89



The PLANETARY REPORT 11-12 2004 Cosmos 1 Solar Sail; Deep Impact flyby &c picture

The PLANETARY REPORT 11-12 2004 Cosmos 1 Solar Sail; Deep Impact flyby &c

$9.99



2002 Artbox Filmcardz Disney Treasure Planet Cards - Your Choice You Select picture

2002 Artbox Filmcardz Disney Treasure Planet Cards - Your Choice You Select

$1.25



1990 Press Photo Artist Rendition of U.S. Solar Sail - mjsp01589 picture

1990 Press Photo Artist Rendition of U.S. Solar Sail - mjsp01589

$24.88



Handmade Oil Painting Abstract Solar Flare Painting Picture Textured Canvas picture

Handmade Oil Painting Abstract Solar Flare Painting Picture Textured Canvas

$83.70



Casio Solar Watch Protrek/Digital Analyzer/Canvas/Blk/Beg picture

Casio Solar Watch Protrek/Digital Analyzer/Canvas/Blk/Beg

$295.62



Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes