Mini‐Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion: Tapping the energy of the solar wind for spacecraft propulsion

Abstract

Abstract. Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion is a potentially revolutionary plasma propulsion concept that could enable spacecraft to travel out of the solar system at unprecedented speeds of 50 to 80 km s '1 or could enable travel between the planets for low power requirements of --1 kW per 100 kg of payload and ~ 0.5 kg fuel consumption per day for acceleration periods of several days to a few weeks. The high efficiency and specific impulse attained by the system are due to its utilization of ambient energy, in this case the energy of the solar wind, to provide the enhanced thrust. Coupling to the solar wind is produced through a large-scale magnetic bubble or mini-magnetosphere generated by the injection of plasma into the magnetic field supported by solenoid coils on the spacecraft. This inflation is driven by electromagnetic processes, so that the material and deployment problems associated with mechanical sails are eliminated.

Artificial equilibrium points for a generalized sail in the circular restricted three-body problem

“…Finally η = 0 represents a constant propulsive acceleration, or a thrust that is independent of the distance from the massive attractor. Actually η = 0 is consistent with a situation in which the propulsion system is either a minimagnetospheric plasma thruster (Winglee et al, 2000;Trask et al, 2004;Mengali and Quarta, 2006), or an electric thruster when the thrust is modulated such as to provide a constant thrust-to-mass ratio (Prussing and Coverstone, 1998;Mengali and Quarta, 2009a) and the power source is independent of the Sun-spacecraft distance, as in a nuclear-powered system. This happens, for example, when the power subsystem is represented by a radio-isotope thermoelectric generator (Hunt, 1993;Lyngvi et al, 2007).…”

What characterizes planetary space weather?

“…• First, suggestions have been made about the use of the solar wind as an energy source for spacecraft propulsion, such as the "mini-magnetosphere plasma propulsion (M2P2)" idea (Winglee et al 2000). In this approach, plasma injected into a magnetic field produced on a spacecraft plays the role of a mini-magnetosphere.…”

Dynamics of Radially Accelerated Trajectories

“…The propulsive force considered in this paper is minimagnetospheric plasma propulsion (M2P2), a technology proposed by Winglee et al 8) Although the full proof of the technology has yet to be reported, M2P2 is a promising propulsion technology for accelerating spacecraft in the outward radial direction.…”