Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma

Propulsion (M2P2)
R. M. Winglee, G. K. Parks, M. McCarthy
Geophysics Program, Univ. of Washington
J . Slough, T. Ziemba
Aeronautics and Astronautics, Uni. Of Washington
J . Burch
Southwest Research Institute
A. Goodson
Boeing Corporation
NIAC March 25, 1999
Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma
Propulsion (M2P2)
Facilitate High Speed Spacecraft
For the Exploration of the Solar System and Beyond
Enabling Technology Exists Today
to 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+07
Bcoil (nT)
S
t
a
n
d
o
f
f

D
i
s
t
a
n
c
e

(
m
)
0 tilt
45 tilt
extrapolation
Simple Dipole
10
5
10
4
10
3
10
2
10
1
10
3
10
4
10
5
10
6
10
7
B
coil
(nT)
S
t
a
n
d
o
f
f

D
i
s
t
a
n
c
e

(
m
)
(Solar Wind - 500 km/s @ 6 particles/cc)
10

1
.1
.01
100 1,000 10,000 100,000
Resistoj et
Electrothermal
Arcjet
MPD
Ion
M2P2
Specific Impulse (sec)
T
h
r
u
s
t

(
N
)
Potting
Material
Quartz Tube
(5 cm OD)
Helicon Source Coil
Stainless Enclosure for
Helicon Source
Gas Feed Thru
Copper Housing Coil
Connections
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+01 Force from Plasma Source (mN)
F
o
r
c
e

e
x
e
r
t
e
d

b
y

S
o
l
a
r

W
i
n
d

(
m
N
)
0 tilt - Radial
45 tilt - Radial
45 tilt - Azimuth
Extrapolate - Radial
Extrapolate - Azimuth
10
-2
10
-3
10
-4
10
-1
10
0
10
1
Force from Plasma Source (mN)
10
-1
10
0
10
1
10
2
10
3
10
-2
F
o
r
c
e

E
x
e
r
t
e
d

b
y

S
o
l
a
r

W
i
n
d

(
m
N
)
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/m
2
Momentum Flux : 1 nN/m
2
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
Interstellar
Wind
Heliopause : End of the Plasma
Solar System
Termination
Shock:
Subsonic
Solar Wind
Solar Wind
Voyager 1:
Launched 1978
Formation of a Magnetic Wall
Supersonic Solar Wind
(400 - 1000 km/s)
Streamlines
&
Contours of
density
Magnetic Wall
15 - 30 km radius
Electromagnetic-
Plasma Interaction
Not Mechanical
Constant Force Surface
Creating A Mini-Magnetosphere
Spacecraft
Magnetic
Field
S
o
l
a
r

W
i
n
d
IMF
Bow Shock
Plasma
Injection
Magnetic Field + Plasma Injection = Strong Solar Wind
Coupling
Dipole : B ~ R
-3
Current Sheet : B ~ R
-1
Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion
Helicon
Plasma
Sources
Magnetic
Coil
Propellant
Storage
STRONG COUPLING through
Plasma Injection + Magnetic Field
to the Solar Wind (400 - 1000 km/s)
Azimuthal : Inner Solar System
Radial : Outer Solar System
Constant Force is attained
irrespective 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 principle
goal 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