Helical Engine

Burns, David M

关键词: ELECTRIC FIELDS;    ENGINE DESIGN;    ION PROPULSION;    IONS;    MAGNETIC FIELDS;    MOMENTUM TRANSFER;    PROPELLANTS;    SPACECRAFT MODELS;    SPACECRAFT PROPULSION;    SPECIFIC IMPULSE;    STATIONKEEPING;    VELOCITY;   

RP-ID  :  AIAA-2019-4395,MSFC-E-DAA-TN65101

学科分类：航空航天科学

美国|英语

来源: NASA Technical Reports Server

【 摘 要 】

A new concept for in-space propulsion is proposed in which propellant is not ejected from the engine, but instead is captured to create a nearly infinite specific impulse. The engine accelerates ions confined in a closed loop to relativistic speeds, and slightly varies their velocity to change their momentum. The engine then moves the ions back and forth along the direction of travel to produce thrust. This in-space engine is intended to be used for long-term satellite station-keeping without refueling or to propel spacecraft across interstellar distances. The engine has no moving parts other than ions traveling in a closed-loop vacuum line, trapped inside electric and magnetic fields.