Magnetics allow Spaceships to Formate in Space More Efficiently
New science technologies are being prepared by NASA researchers to allow spaceships to fly in magnetic formation, instead of the traditional old-fashioned “jets of gas and Newton’s Third law old-fashioned thrusters”. By using new methods of superconducting magnets that will replace the older formation methods, arrays of solar cells will provide power for the new electromagnetic.
Not perfect by all means, the new magnetic method can develop problems in Earth’s orbit, as the magnetic field of Earth is capable of pulling on the magnets of the spaceships, causing them to go into uncontrollable orbit. But a recent study by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which was led by Shin-ichiro Sakai, feels that a delicate balance can be achieved by switching the polarity of the magnets several times a minute.
Remaining with the traditional thrusters would not be so bad IF the reaction mass was not being ejected to provide its effort, according to NASA and Space.com, with only limited amount of material able to be sent into orbit. Once the mass is spent, there is absolutely no way to maneuver the spacecraft in space. Meanwhile, with the latest developments of electromagnets, the spacecraft would be able to orient them self. Energy is a source of contention on Earth the way it is, without sending a spaceship into space requiring enough fuel to lift-off at about 17,500 mph to prevent it from falling back to Earth. To go to another planet requires even more, with the spaceship going about 25,000 mph.
The disadvantage of the tradition lift-off and non-magnetic formations is that the spaceship not only carries itself, but its own fuel and cargo. Overall, the space shuttle’s weight is about six times its own weight with all of the cargo and fuel added, making the main liftoff issue considered “lifting fuel”, with the magnetic theory ideal to replace these heavy-ran jets of gas or fuel.
Newer ideas are popping up even more due to a serious need for tourist access to space, requiring the cheapest way to go and the most efficient. One ideas is the coupling with the magnetic field of Earth to launch a spacecraft to low-earth orbit, which presently requires 90% of the rocket mass be fuel. The new proposal is to have power beamed to the ship, via the magnetic field. The only problem here is the deceasing of the magnetic field, according to the latest data being done, with estimations that the magnetic field may be gone entirely in about 1,000 years.
This entry was posted on Saturday, May 10th, 2008 at 6:53 am and is filed under Space Agency News, Technical Concerns, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
