Future spacecraft may surf the magnetic fields of Earth and other planets.
These electrically charged craft would not need rockets or propellant of any kind.
The idea, for this revolutionary propulsion method, is based on the fact that magnetic fields exert forces on electrically charged objects.
To start the process, a satellite could charge itself up in one of two ways – either by firing a beam of charged particles into space, or simply by allowing a radioactive isotope to emit charged particles. Then the charged satellite could then be gently pushed by Earth's rotating magnetic field, enabling it to change orbit and even escape to interplanetary space.
On possible configuration for a satellite would be long, thin filaments, on the other which have a lot of charge-holding surface area. A possible design involves many filaments attached to the spacecraft. The setup would have a rather comical look – because of the static charge, the filaments would stick out in all directions, like newly brushed dry hair.
These electrically charged craft would not need rockets or propellant of any kind.
The idea, for this revolutionary propulsion method, is based on the fact that magnetic fields exert forces on electrically charged objects.
To start the process, a satellite could charge itself up in one of two ways – either by firing a beam of charged particles into space, or simply by allowing a radioactive isotope to emit charged particles. Then the charged satellite could then be gently pushed by Earth's rotating magnetic field, enabling it to change orbit and even escape to interplanetary space.
On possible configuration for a satellite would be long, thin filaments, on the other which have a lot of charge-holding surface area. A possible design involves many filaments attached to the spacecraft. The setup would have a rather comical look – because of the static charge, the filaments would stick out in all directions, like newly brushed dry hair.
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