Mini-Magnetospheric PlasmaPropulsion (M2P2)

• R. M. Winglee, G. K. Parks, M. McCarthyGeophysics Program, Univ. of Washington

• J. Slough, T. ZiembaAeronautics and Astronautics, Uni. Of Washington

• J. BurchSouthwest Research Institute

• A. GoodsonBoeing Corporation

NIAC March 25, 1999

Mini-Magnetospheric PlasmaPropulsion (M2P2)

• Facilitate High Speed SpacecraftFor the Exploration of the Solar System and Beyond

• Enabling Technology Exists Todayto attain 50-80 km/s in 3 month accel. period

• Immediate Return to NASA Missions- Interstellar Probe Precusor

race Voyager 1 out of the Solar System - Geostorm - Solar Wind Monitoring- Sun Synchronous Orbiter - Mercury Orbiter

Standoff Distance : 10 m Inner Radius

1.E+01

1.E+02

1.E+03

1.E+04

1.E+05

1.E+03 1.E+04 1.E+05 1.E+06 1.E+07Bcoil (nT)

Stan

doff

Dis

tanc

e (m

)

0 tilt45 tiltextrapolationSimple Dipole

105

104

103

102

101

103 104 105 106 107

Bcoil (nT)

Stan

doff

Dis

tanc

e (m

)(Solar Wind - 500 km/s @ 6 particles/cc)

10

1

.1

.01

100 1,000 10,000 100,000

Resistojet

ElectrothermalArcjet

MPD

Ion

M2P2

Specific Impulse (sec)

Thru

st (N

)

PottingMaterial

Quartz Tube(5 cm OD)

Helicon Source Coil

Stainless Enclosure forHelicon Source

Gas Feed Thru

Copper Housing CoilConnections

Magnetic Coil(25 cm OD)

Quartz End Plug

M2P2 Lab. Prototype

1.E-02

1.E-01

1.E+00

1.E+01

1.E+02

1.E+03

1.E-04 1.E-03 1.E-02 1.E-01 1.E+00 1.E+01Force from Plasma Source (mN)

Forc

e ex

erte

d by

Sol

ar W

ind

(mN

)

0 tilt - Radial45 tilt - Radial45 tilt - AzimuthExtrapolate - RadialExtrapolate - Azimuth

10-210-310-4 10-1 100 101

Force from Plasma Source (mN)

10-1

100

101

102

103

10-2Forc

e Ex

erte

d by

Sol

ar W

ind

(mN

) 0.6 N per 100 kg 50 km/s in 3 months

M2P2 : 1 mN Expended : 400 mN For Acceleration

M2P2 Near Future Solar Sails (e.g Geostorm)15- 30 km

40 - 70 m

4.7 uN/m2Momentum Flux : 1 nN/m2

Total Force : 0.6 -3 N 0.025 - 0.075 N

Weigh : 20 - 40 kg 100 kg

Power : 3 kW 0 W

Method : Electromagnetic Mechanical

InterstellarWind

Heliopause : End of the Plasma Solar System

TerminationShock:SubsonicSolar Wind

Solar Wind

Voyager 1:Launched 1978

Formation of a Magnetic WallSupersonic Solar Wind(400 - 1000 km/s)

Streamlines

&

Contours ofdensity

Magnetic Wall

•15 - 30 km radius

•Electromagnetic-Plasma Interaction

•Not Mechanical

•Constant Force Surface

Creating A Mini-Magnetosphere

SpacecraftMagneticField

Sola

r Win

d

IMF Bow Shock

PlasmaInjection

Magnetic Field + Plasma Injection = Strong Solar WindCoupling

Dipole : B ~ R-3

Current Sheet : B ~ R -1

Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma PropulsionHeliconPlasmaSources

MagneticCoil

PropellantStorage

• STRONG COUPLING throughPlasma Injection + Magnetic Fieldto the Solar Wind (400 - 1000 km/s)

Azimuthal : Inner Solar SystemRadial : Outer Solar System

• Constant Force is attainedirrespective of position in the Solar System

• Enabling Technology Exists

Status of Present Work-Completed computer simulations showing feasibility-Lab. Prototype fully designed and being constructed

Near-Future-Demonstrate magnetic wall inflation

Small Tank (factor of 2)Large Tank (factor of 10)

-Specify spacecraft mission for proof of principlegoal of 50-80 km/s in 3 months-Facilitate exploration of outer solar system

Long Term

- Constant power supply for 1 yr allow 200-320 km/s

-Utilization of Dusty Plasma would allow propulsion by Solar Photons without the need for mechanical struts with unprecedented area to attain 10,000 km/s