Electrodynamic Tether

Electro dynamic Tether November 2012
ELECTRO DYNAMIC TETHER

SEMINAR REPORT
Dept.of.ECE 1 SeminarsTopics.com
CHAPTER -1
INTRODUCTION
Satellites have a major part to play in the present communication system. These
satellites are launched with the help of rockets. Typically a payload will placed by a
rocket in to Low Earth Orbit or LEO (around 400 km) and then boosted higher by
rocket thrusters. But just transporting a satellite from the lower orbit to its eventual
destination can to several thousand dollars per kilogram of payload. To cut expenses
space experts are reconsidering the technology used to place payload in their final
orbits.
There are over eight thousand satellites and other large objects in orbit around the
Earth, and there are countless smaller pieces of debris generated by spacecraft
explosions between satellites. Until recently it has been standard practices to put a
satellite in to and leave it there. However the number of satellites has grown quickly,
and as a result, the amount of orbital debris is growing rapidly. Because this debris is
traveling at orbital speed (78km/s), it poses a significant threat to the space shuttle, the
International Space Station and the many satellites in Earth orbit.
One method of removing a satellite from orbit would be to carry extra propellant so
that the satellite can bring itself down out of orbit. However this method requires a
large mass of propellant and every kilo of propellant that must be carried up reduces
the weight available for revenue-producing transponders. Moreover this requires that
the rocket and satellites guidance systems must be functional after sitting in orbit for
ten years or more.
What can, without rockets, deploy satellite to Earth-orbit or fling them in to deep
space, can generate electrical power in space, can then catch and eliminate space
junk? String! Sounds impossible, but the development in space-tethers may be as
significant to future space development as rockets were to its beginnings.
Called an electrodynamic tether provides a simple and reliable alternative to the

conventional rocket thrusters. Electrodynamic tethers work by virtue of the force a
magnetic field exerts on a current carrying wire. In essence, it is a clever way of
getting an electric current to flow in a long conducting wire that is orbiting Earth, so
that earth’s magnetic field will exerts a force on and accelerate the wire and hence any
payload attached to it. By reversing the direction of current in it, the same tether can
be used to deorbit old satellites.
1.1 HISTORY OF SPACE TETHERS
While space-based tethers have been studied theoretically since in the 20th
century, it wasn’t until 1947 that Giuseppe Colombo came up with the idea of using a
long tether to support a satellite System (TSS) to investigate plasma physics and the
generation of electricity in the upper atmosphere.Up until the TSS the use of tethers in
space has been limited. The best-known applications are the tethers that connect
spacewalking astronauts to their spacecraft. Astronauts can work and fly free of the
Space Shuttle using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), but for most work
activities in the Shuttle payload bay (and during the assembly of the International
Space Station) astronauts still use a safety tether.
However, spacewalk tethers are very short and are not stabilized by gravitational
forces. The TSS-IR mission and rocket-launched experiments, such as the SMALL
expendable Deployer System (SEDS) and the Plasma Motor Generator (PMG), have
increased our understanding of the way tethers behave in space. Each used different
types of tether to deploy satellites and conduct research, demonstrating the usefulness
of tether technology.
Fig.1.1History of tether
CHAPTER 2
PRINCIPLE
The basic principle of an electro dynamic tether is Lorentz force. It is the

force that a magnetic field exerts on a current carrying wire in a direction
perpendicular to both the direction of current flow and the magnetic field vector.
The Dutch physicist Hendrik Androon Lorentz showed that a moving electric charge
experiences a force in a magnetic field. (if the charge is at rest, there will not be any
force on it due to magnetic field ) Hence it is clear that the force experienced by a
current conductor in a magnetic field is due to the drifting of electrons in it. If a
current I flows through a conductor of cross-section A then
I = neAv where v is the drift speed of electronics n is number density in the

conductor and e the electronic charge.
For an element dI of the conductor
Id = nAdIev
But AdI is the volume of the current element. Therefore, nAdI represents the number
(N) of electrons in the element
Hence, nAdIe = Ne = q, the total charge in the element.
Therefore, IdI = qv
But, the force dF on a current carrying element dI in a magnetic field B is given by
dF = IdIB
i.e.,dF = qvB
This fundamental force on a charge q moving with a velocity v in a magnetic field B

is called the Magnetic Lorentz Force.
2.1 LORENTZ FORCE LAW
The Lorentz Force Low can be used to describe the effect of a charged particle
moving in a constant magnetic field. The simplest form of this low given by the scalar
equation
F = QvB
F is the force acting on the particle (vector)
V is the velocity of the particle (vector)
Q is charge of particle (scalar)
B is magnetic field (vector)
NOTE: this case is for v and B perpendicular to each other otherwise use F = QvB
(sin (X) ) where X is the angle between v and B, when v and B are perpendicular X
=90 deg. So sin (x) =1.
Fleming’s left hand rule comes in to play here to figure out which way the force is
acting
2.2 FLEMING’S LEFT HAND RULES
For a charged particle moving (velocity v) in a magnetic field (field B) the direction
of the resultant force (force F) can be found by
MIDDLE FINGER of left hand in direction of CURRENT
INDEX FINGER of left hand in direction of FIELD. B
THUMB now points in direction of the FORCE OR MOTION. F
The force will always be perpendicular to the plane of vector v and B no matter what
the angle between v and B is. Just pretend the following picture is.
Fig.2.1 Flemings Left Hand Rule
CHAPTER 3
WORKING
An electro dynamic tether is essentially a long conducting wire extended from a space
craft. The electro dynamic tether is made from aluminum alloy and typically between
5 and 20 kilometers long[1]. It extends ‘downwards’ from an orbiting platform.
Aluminum alloy is used since it is strong, lightweight, inexpensive and easily
machined.
The gravity gradient field (also known as “tidal force”) will tend to orient the tether in
a vertical position. If the tether is orbiting around the Earth, it will be crossing the
earth’s magnetic field lines orbital velocity (7-8 km/s). The motion of the conductor
across the magnetic field induces a voltage along the length of the tether. This voltage
can up to several hundred volts per kilometer.
Fig.3.1Working of tether
In the above figure the sphere represents the Earth and the unbroken lines represents
Earth’s magnetic field. The broken line is LEO. As shown in the figure there is a drag
force experienced in the wire in a direction perpendicular to the current and magnetic
field vector.
In an “electro dynamic tether drag” system such as the terminator Tether, the tether
can be used to reduce the orbit of the spacecraft to which it is attached. If the system
has a means for collecting electrons from the ionospheric plasma at one end of the
tether and expelling them back in to the plasma at the other end of the tether, the
voltage can drive a current along the tether. This current bill, in turn, interact with the
Earth’s magnetic field to cause a Lorentz JXB force, which will oppose the motion of
the tether and whatever it is attached to. This “electrodynamics drag force” will
decrease the orbit of the tether and its host spacecraft. Essentially, the tether converts
the orbital energy of the host spacecraft in to electrical power, which is dissipated as
ohmic heating in the tether.
Fig3.2
Principle of
electrodynamic
tether propulsion
In an
“electrodynamic
propulsion”
system, the
tether can be
used to boost the
orbit of the
spacecraft. If a
power supply is added to the tether system and used to drive current in the direction
opposite to that which it normally wants to flow, the tether can “push” against the
Earth’s magnetic field to raise the spacecraft’s orbit. The major advantage of this
technique compared to the other space propulsion system is that it doesn’t require any
propellant. It uses Earth’s magnetic field as its “reaction mass”. By eliminating the
need to launch large amounts of propellant in to orbit, electrodynamic tethers can
greatly reduce the cost of in-space propulsion[1].
The tether is dragged through the atmosphere‘s’ ionosheric plasma. The rarefied
medium of electrons through which the whole set up is traveling at a speed of 7-
8km/s. In so doing, the 5-km. long aluminium wire extracts electrons from the plasma
at the end farthest from the payload and carries them to the near end (plasma chamber
tests have verified that thin bare wires can collect current from plasma). There a
specially designed devise known as a hollow cathode emitter expels the electrons, to
ensure their return to space currents in the circuit.
Ordinarily, a uniform magnetic field acting on a current-bearing loop of wire yields a

net force of zero, since that cancels the force on one side of the loop on the other side,
in which the current is flowing in the opposite direction However, since the tethered
system is not mechanically attached to the plasma. The magnetic force on the plasma
current in the space does not cancel the forces on the tether. And so the tether
experiences a net force.
As the tether cuts across the magnetic field, its bias voltage is positive at the end
farthest from Earth and negative at the near end. This polarization is due to the action
of Lorentz force on the electrons in the tether. Thus the “natural” upward current flow
due to the (negatively charged) electrons in the ionosphere being attracted to the
tethers far and then returned to the plasma at the near end. Aided by the hollow
cathode emitter. The hollow cathode is vital: without it, the wire’s charge distribution
would quickly reach equilibrium and no current would flows.
Switching on the hollow cathode causes a small tungsten tube to heat up and fill with
xenon gas from small tank. Electrons from the tether interacted with the heated gas to
create ion plasma. At the far end of the tube. a so called keeper electrode, which is
positively charged with respect to the tube. Draw the electrons and expels them to
space. (the xenon ions, mean while are collected by the hollow cathode and used to
provide additional heating). The rapid discharge of electrons invites new electrons to
follow from the tether and out through the hollow cathode. Earth’s magnetic field
exerts a drag force on a current carrying tether, decelerating it and the payload and
rapidly lowering their orbit Eventually they re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.
3.1 STABILIZATION OF ELECTRODYNAMIC

TETHERS
Electro dynamic tethers have strong potential for providing propellant less
propulsion to spacecraft in low-earth orbit for application such as satellite deorbit,
orbit boosting and station keeping. However electro dynamic tethers are inherently
unstable. When a tether in an orbit carries a current along its length, the interaction of
the tether with the geometric field creates a force on the tether that is directed
perpendicular to the tether. The summation of these force along the length of the
tether can produce a net propulsive force on the tether system, raising or lowering its
orbit. The tether however is not a rigid rod held above or below the spacecraft it is a
very long thin cable and has little or no flexural rigidity. The transverse electro
dynamic forces therefore cause the tether to bow and to swing away from the local
vertical. Gravity gradient forces produces a restoring force that pulls the tether back
towards the local vertical but this results in a pendulum-like motion. Because the
direction of the geomagnetic field varies as the tether orbits the Earth the direction
and magnitude of the electro dynamic forces also varies and so this pendulum motion
develops in to complex librations in both the in-plane and out-of-plane direction. Due
to coupling between the in-plane motion and longitudinal elastic oscillations as well
as coupling between in-plane and out-cf-plane motions an electro dynamic tether
operated at a constant current will continually add energy to the libration motions,
causing the libration amplitudes to build until the tether begins rotating or oscillating
wildly In addition orbital variations in the strength and magnitude of the electro
dynamic force will drive transverse higher order oscillations in the tether which can
lead to the unstable growth of “Skip-rope” modes[2].
Two new control schemes are developed to provide the ability to prevent the unstable
growth of librations transverse oscillations and skip rope modes. These feedback
control schemes requires as input periodic measurements of the locations of the tether
end mass and/or several points along the tether. The feedback algorithm calculates a
gain factor based upon the network that the electro dynamic forces will perform on
the tether dynamics. The feedback is performed by varying the current in the tether
system slightly according to the calculated gain factor. A tether system deployed in
orbit around the Earth will be pulled by gravity gradient forces towards an
equilibrium configurations oriented along the local vertical. In an electro dynamic

tether system, illustrated conceptually in figure currents in the tether flowing across
the planetary magnetic field will generate JXB forces acting in a direction
perpendicular to both the magnetic field and the tether. These forces will push the
tether away from the local vertical orientation.
The first requires periodic measurements of the locations of several points along
the tether. This algorithm is referred to as the Tether configuration “feedback method.
The second algorithm requires only periodic measurements of the acceleration of the
tether end mass. This algorithm is referred to as the “Endmass Acceleration” feedback
method. These stabilization algorithm forms the heart of the Electro dynamic Tether
Stabilization System (EDTS) which will enable electro dynamic tethers to provide
long-term propellant less propulsions while maintaining tether stability and efficiency.
CHAPTER 4
EDT APPLICATIONS,MERITS AND DEMERITS
4.1APPLICATIONS
4.1.1 Propellant less propulsion for LEO spacecraft:
ED tether system can provide propellant less propulsion for spacecraft operating in
low Earth orbit. Because the tether system does not consume propellant, it can
provide very large delta-V’s with a very small total mass dramatically reduce the cost
for missions that involve delta-V hungry maneuvers such as formation flying low-
altitude station keeping orbit raising and end-of-mission deorbit. TUI is developing
several ED tether products including the µPET Propulsion System and Terminator
Tether Satellite Deorbit Device[3].
Fig.4.1 LEO space craft
4.1.1.1 The µPET Propulsion System:
TUI is currently developing a propulsion system called the

"Microsatellite Propellant less Electro dynamic Tether (µPET™)[3]
Propulsion System" that will provide propulsive capabilities to
microsatellites and other small spacecraft without consuming propellant.
Fig.4.2 The micro PET Propulsion System concept of Fig.4.3 Deployment test of the micro
operations. PET tether.
Electro dynamic tethers can provide long-term propellant less propulsion capability
for orbital maneuvering and station keeping of small satellites in low-Earth-orbit. The
µPET™ Propulsion System is a small, low-power electro dynamic tether system
designed to provide long-duration boost, reboots, inclination change, and station
keeping propulsion for small satellites. Because the system uses electro dynamic
interactions with the Earth's magnetic field to propel the spacecraft, it does not require
consumption of propellant, and thus can provide long-duration operation and large
total delta-V capability with low mass requirements. Furthermore, because the
µPET™ system does not require propellant, it can easily meet stringent safety
requirements such as are imposed upon Shuttle payloads. In addition, the tether
system can also serve as a gravity-gradient attitude control element, reducing the ACS
requirements of the spacecraft.
characteristics:
The mass, size, and power requirements of the µPET™ Propulsion System depends
upon the size of the satellite and the propulsive mission. TUI has developed a
prototype of a µPET™ sized for a 125 kg microsatellite which could raise the orbit of
this satellite from a 350 km drop-off orbit to a 700 km operational orbit within 50
days.
4.1.1.2 The terminator tether satellite deorbit system:
Fig.
4.4Concept of operations of the Terminator
Tether™. Fig.4.5The Terminator Tether™ Deplorer.
Tethers Unlimited Inc. is currently developing a system called the Terminator

Tether™ that will provide a low-cost, lightweight, and reliable method of removing
objects from low-Earth-orbit (LEO) to mitigate the growth of orbital debris.
The Terminator Tether™ is a small device that uses electro dynamic tether drag to
deorbit a spacecraft. Because it uses passive electromagnetic interactions with the
Earth's magnetic field to lower the orbit of the spacecraft, it requires neither
propellant nor power. Thus it can achieve autonomous deorbit of a spacecraft with
very low mass requirements.
Concept of operations
Before the spacecraft is launched, the Terminator Tether™ is bolted onto the
satellite. While the satellite is operational, the tether is wound on a spool, and the
device is dormant, waking up periodically to check the status of the spacecraft and
listen for activation commands. When the Terminator Tether™ receives a command to
deorbit the spacecraft, it deploys a 5 kilometer long tether below the spacecraft. This
tether interacts with the ionospheric plasma and the geomagnetic field to produce
currents running along the tether, and these currents in turn cause forces on the tether
that lower the orbit of the tethered spacecraft. Over a period of several weeks or
months, the Terminator Tether™ will reduce the orbital altitude of the spacecraft until
it vaporizes in the upper atmosphere.
4.1.2 Electro dynamic reboots of the International Space Station:
Fig.4.6 International Space Station
The International Space Station is the largest and most complex international
scientific project in history. And when it is complete just after the turn of the century,
the station will represent a move of unprecedented scale off the home planet Led by
the United States the International Space Station draws upon the scientific and
technological resources of 16 nations Canada, Japan, Russia. 11 nations of the
European Space Agency and Brazil.
Its construction started at 1998 November 20 when Russia launched Zarya control
module. More than four times as large as the Russian Mir space station the completed
International Space Station will have a mass of about 1,040,000 pounds. It will
measure 356 feet across and 290 feet long with almost an acre of solar panels to
provide electrical power to 6 State-of-the-art laboratories. The station will be in an
orbit with an altitude of 250 statute miles with an inclination of 51.6 degrees. This
orbit allows the station to be reached by the launch vehicles of all the international
partners to provide a robust capability for the delivery of crews and supplies. The
orbit also provides excellent Earth observations with coverage of 85% of the globe
and over flight of 95% of the population. By the end of this year about 500,000
pounds of station components will have been built at factories around the world.
Research in the station six laboratories will lead to discoveries in medicine, materials
and fundamental science that will benefit people all over the world. Through its
research and technology, the station will serve as an indispensable step in preparation
for future human space exploration.
Examples of the types of U.S. research that will be performed abroad the station
includes:
 Protein crystal studies

 Tissue culture
 Life in low gravity
 Flames, fluids and metal in space
 The nature of space
 Watching the Earth
 Commercialization
The international Space station (ISS) will experience a small but constant
aerodynamic drag force as it moves through the thin upper reaches of the Earth’s
atmosphere. This drag force will cause the station’s orbit to decay. If nothing were
done to counteract this, the station would fall out of orbit with in several months.
NASA currently plans to launch several rockets every year to carry fuel up to the
station so that it can reboots its orbit. These launches however, will be very costly.
Tether unlimited, Inc. has helped NASA to explore the potential for using
Electrodynamic tether propulsion to maintain the orbit of the ISS. By using excess
power generated by the ISS’s solar panels to drive current through a conducting
tether, a tether reboots system could counteract the drag forces or even raise the
station’s orbit. NASA and TUI’s studies revealed that such a tether reboots system
could reduce or eliminate the need for dedicated launches for reboots propellant.
Potentially saving up to $2 billion over the first ten years of the station’s operation.
4.1.3 Power Generation in Low Earth Orbit:
Electro dynamic tethers may also provide an economical means of electrical

power in orbit. Essentially, the tether can be used to convert some of the spacecraft’s
Orbital energy in to electrical power. However, since converting the orbital energy in
to electrical power will lower the orbit of the spacecraft (there’s no such thin as a free
launch), this technique is probably only useful for providing high power energy bursts
to short-duration experiments.
4.1.4 Space junk cleanup:
Space junk is a big problem. There is nearly 2000 tonnes of space debris
orbiting the earth. Pieces of derelict spacecraft, bits of launch vehicles and even tiny
flecks of paint are orbiting the earth at tens of thousand of kilometres per hour causing
huge damage whenever they impact on spacecraft or satellites. Scientists are trying to
predict the orbits of all the rubbish so that companies launching satellites or
spacecrafts know their vehicle will be out of danger but could the future involve
clearing up the mess by using tethers attached to “space sheepdogs” .The most direct
application of electrodynamic tether would be to get rid of space junk. Over the past
half century of space exploration, the region around Earth has become cluttered with
debris, which could take years, and in some cases centuries, to fall from orbit. The
danger is that old satellite and rocket stages and trash thrown overboard by early
space shuttles and orbiting space station.
One method of removing a satellite from orbit would be to carry extra

propellant so that the satellite can bring itself down out of orbit. However. This
method requires a large mass of propellant, and every kilo of propellant that must be
carried up reduces the weight available for revenue-producing transponders.
Moreover this requires that the rocket and satellite guidance system must be
functional after sitting in orbit for 10 years or more. Often this is not the case, and the
satellite ends up stuck in its operational orbit. Some organizations are currently
planning on boosting their satellite to higher. “Graveyard” orbits at the end of their
mission. This also required that the satellite’s power, propulsion and guidance be
working at the end of the satellite’s mission. Moreover, it doesn’t really solve the
problem –it just delays it. Somewhat like a toxic waste dump. Recent studies have
shown that satellites left in a higher graveyard orbit will slowly break apart down to
lower altitudes. Thus satellites boosted to higher disposal orbits will eventually
endanger operational satellites. Moreover, once the old satellites fragment in to
smaller particles, it will be nearly impossible to clean up the debris. Consequently, it
will be much more cost effective in the long run to deal with the problem properly
from the start. And deorbit all old spacecraft.
Using a tether to deorbit would be inherently more reliable. ED tethers are

much lighter are more compact than conventional thrusters: a tether system would
account for as little as 2% of the satellite’s total weight and could be easily bolted to
the satellites. Once the end of the satellite’s useful life is reached. The tether would
unreel, and the tether-driven orbital decay.
4.1.5 Exploring the Outer Planet

Perhaps the most exotic use of ED tether technology would be to propel and
power spacecraft exploring the outer planets. Existing vessels have relied on solar
cells, but at distances far from the Sun, the power available is typically less than 100
W. Jupiter and its moons have an environment particularly favorable to ED tethers;
the planet has a strong magnetic field and a rapid rotation rate, and its mass dictates
high orbital velocities. With the magnetic field moving much faster than the
spacecraft, the tether would essentially be stealing energy from the planet's magnetic
field.
In theory the tether could power the craft's instruments and generate thrust at
one and the same time for a circular orbit close to the planet, tether propulsive forces
have been calculated to be as high as 50 N and power levels as high as 1 MW. This
level of power would sustain a whole new suit of science instruments such as high
power radars, but it also means having to deal with power conversion, energy
dissipation and tether, overheating.
To address the many remaining performances and operational issues, a
follow-on experiment to ProSEDS will need to be flown. Such an experiment would
demonstrate the tether's use in raising altitudes and changing orbital inclinations in a
series of predictable, repeatable flight profiles. NASA researchers have proposed such
an experiment, but it has yet to receive funding.
4.1.6 Tip Velocity and Material Strength
The maximum tip speed of all these systems is a function of the "launcher to
payload mass ratio" of the tether system and the "characteristic velocity" of the
material used. The characteristic velocity of the material in a tether is given by the
square root of the ratio of the design tensile strength T of the tether to the density D of
the tether material, u = (T_d/D) Al/2. In practice, the design tensile strength is usually
chosen to be 50% of the measured strength for metals and 25% of the measured short-
term individual fiber strength for other materials. Thus, using imperfect materials with
reasonable safety margins, the characteristic velocity of most metals and fibers is
around 1 km/s, with" optimistic predictions for graphite and improved polymers
reaching 3 km/s. With the development of a design for a high strength-to-weight
tapered Hoy tether, the design tensile strength can be safely chosen to be 60% of the
measured strength of the individual fibers, allowing commercially available fibers to
have characteristic velocities up to 4 km/s.
4.2 MERITS
The operational advantages of electrodynamic tethers of moderate length are

becoming evident from studies of collision avoidance. Although long tethers (of order
of 10 kilometers) provide high efficiency and good adaptability to varying plasma
conditions, boosting tethers of moderate length (~1 kilometer) and suitable design
might still operate at acceptable efficiencies and adequate adaptability to a changing

environment.
ED tethers used for propulsion in low-Earth orbit and beyond could significantly
reduce the weight of upper stages used to boost spacecraft to higher orbit. Much of the
weight of any launch vehicle is the propellant and It is expensive to lift heavy
propellants off the ground.
Since ED tethers require no propellant, they could substantially reduce the weight of
the spacecraft and provide a cost effective method of reboosting spacecraft, such as
the International Space Station (ISS)
4.3 DEMERITS
One question is the long-term survival of the tethers. While the
atmosphere at Low Earth Orbit (LEO) altitude is extremely thin -millions of times
thinner than the air at sea level -it is largely composed of atomic oxygen, which is
very corrosive.
High velocity micrometeorites pose an even more prominent problem. High

velocities meteorites can easily rupture the tether and can tear the tether apart
materials with greater strength are being developed to overcome this barrier.
CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE
5.1CONCLUSIONS
Electro dynamic tether now becoming the most popular fuel

carrier for space craft’s. ED tethers can provide long-term propellant less propulsion
capability for orbital maneuvering and station keeping of small satellites in low-Earth-
orbit. Electro dynamic tethers may also provide an economical means of electrical
power in orbit. TUI is currently developing a propulsion system called the "Micro
satellite Propellant less Electro dynamic Tether (uPET™) Propulsion System".
5.2FUTURE SCOPES
5.2.1 Satellite Tugboat
Another idea is for the ED tether to be attached to an unmanned space tugboat that
would ferry satellites to higher orbits. After being launched in to low Earth orbit, the
so called Orbital Transfer Vehicle would grapple the satellite and maneuver it to a new
altitude or inclination. The tug could then lower its own orbit to rendezvous with
another payload and repeat and repeat the process.
Fig.5.1 EDT tug
5.2.2Exploring the outer planets
Perhaps the most exotic use if ED tether technology would be to propel and power
spacecraft exploring the outer planets. Existing vessels have relied on solar cells, but
at distances far from the Sun, the power available is typically favourable to ED
tethers: The planet has a strong magnetic field moving much faster than the spacecraft
the tether would essentially be stealing energy from the planet’s magnetic field.
In theory tether could power the craft’s instruments and generates thrust at one and the
same time. For a circular orbit close to the planet tether propulsive forces have been
calculated to be as high as 50 N and power levels as high as 1MW. This level of
power would sustain a whole new suite of science instruments such as high-power
radar—but it also means having to deal with power conversion, energy dissipation,
and tether overheating
Tethers are an exciting area of space research with many possible applications. Soon
they may become common, replacing conventional deployment technologies, and
improving access to space.
5.2.3Tether Transport from Low Earth to the Lunar Surface
A concept developed by Tethers Unlimited wherein several rotating tethers in

orbit around the earth and moon may provide a means of exchanging supplies
between low Earth orbit facilities and Lunar bases without requiring the use of
propellants.
5.2.4Tethers for Rapid Autonomous Deorbit of Leo Satellites
Tethers Unlimited Inc. is currently developing a system called "Terminator

Tether" that will provide a low cost, light weight and reliable method of removing
objects from Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
REFERENCES
[1]Tethers in Space Handbook. M. L. Cosmo and E. C. Lorenzini. Third edition.

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
[2]Overview of Future NASA Tether Applications. L. Johnson, B. Gilchrist, R. D.

Estes and E. Lorenzini in Advances in Space Research
[3]Cosmo, ML, and Lorenzini, E.C. Tethers In Space Handbook - Third Edition,
prepared for NASA/MSFC by Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge,
MA.
[4]http://www.tethers.com/EDTethers.html
[5]http://data.engin.umich.edu/icarus/documents/ProSEDS/Tether
[6]http://www.islandone.org/LEOBiblio/SPBI1ET.HTM

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Electro dynamic Tether November 2012

ELECTRO DYNAMIC TETHER

Called an electrodynamic tether provides a simple and reliable alternative to the

1.1 HISTORY OF SPACE TETHERS

The basic principle of an electro dynamic tether is Lorentz force. It is the

I = neAv where v is the drift speed of electronics n is number density in the

For an element dI of the conductor

Hence, nAdIe = Ne = q, the total charge in the element.

But, the force dF on a current carrying element dI in a magnetic field B is given by

This fundamental force on a charge q moving with a velocity v in a magnetic field B

2.1 LORENTZ FORCE LAW

F is the force acting on the particle (vector)

V is the velocity of the particle (vector)

Q is charge of particle (scalar)

B is magnetic field (vector)

2.2 FLEMING’S LEFT HAND RULES

MIDDLE FINGER of left hand in direction of CURRENT

INDEX FINGER of left hand in direction of FIELD. B

THUMB now points in direction of the FORCE OR MOTION. F

Fig.2.1 Flemings Left Hand Rule

Ordinarily, a uniform magnetic field acting on a current-bearing loop of wire yields a

3.1 STABILIZATION OF ELECTRODYNAMIC

equilibrium configurations oriented along the local vertical. In an electro dynamic

EDT APPLICATIONS,MERITS AND DEMERITS

4.1.1 Propellant less propulsion for LEO spacecraft:

Fig.4.1 LEO space craft

4.1.1.1 The µPET Propulsion System:

TUI is currently developing a propulsion system called the

4.1.1.2 The terminator tether satellite deorbit system:

Tethers Unlimited Inc. is currently developing a system called the Terminator

4.1.2 Electro dynamic reboots of the International Space Station:

Fig.4.6 International Space Station

 Protein crystal studies

 Life in low gravity

 Flames, fluids and metal in space

 The nature of space

 Watching the Earth

4.1.3 Power Generation in Low Earth Orbit:

Electro dynamic tethers may also provide an economical means of electrical

4.1.4 Space junk cleanup:

One method of removing a satellite from orbit would be to carry extra

Using a tether to deorbit would be inherently more reliable. ED tethers are

4.1.5 Exploring the Outer Planet

4.1.6 Tip Velocity and Material Strength

The operational advantages of electrodynamic tethers of moderate length are

might still operate at acceptable efficiencies and adequate adaptability to a changing

High velocity micrometeorites pose an even more prominent problem. High

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE

Electro dynamic tether now becoming the most popular fuel

5.2.1 Satellite Tugboat

Fig.5.1 EDT tug

5.2.2Exploring the outer planets

5.2.3Tether Transport from Low Earth to the Lunar Surface

A concept developed by Tethers Unlimited wherein several rotating tethers in

5.2.4Tethers for Rapid Autonomous Deorbit of Leo Satellites

Tethers Unlimited Inc. is currently developing a system called "Terminator

[1]Tethers in Space Handbook. M. L. Cosmo and E. C. Lorenzini. Third edition.

[2]Overview of Future NASA Tether Applications. L. Johnson, B. Gilchrist, R. D.

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