RINGS propulsion

[digitalsingularity]

Hey guys, it'd be awesome to see RINGS propulsion for smaller satellites, eventually. A system that doesn't need mono-propellants would be cool... also, clusters of micro-satellites would be sweet, but I'd imagine that it might be taxing on the CPU.

http://www.gizmag.com/rings-satellite-iss/28712/

[chaos_forge]

It would require implementation of magnetic fields though, which would be a pretty major undertaking.

[Kegereneku]

At first I thought it was about using Earth magnetic field to move around, but it seem the idea here is to have a cluster of satellites get into specific formations using magnet and reaction wheels to attract and repel each other.

I cannot tell if this is harder to program, but KSP can alway simplify things.

What worry me more is eventual Exploit where you would put a lot of those magnets everywhere to move things around, even if it's weak and require a lot of power.

[gloowa]

From what i read in that article, you can't move stuff with that. Center of mass remains stationary, as all satellites push or pull other satellites to move themselves, by definition pushing/pulling them in opposite direction. So it's like a reaction wheel that can translate you to some extent.

[chaos_forge]

Just wanted to say that although the RINGS system mentioned here does not server for propelling a single satellite, there is a method of spacecraft propulsion using magnetic fields: Electrodynamic Tethers. IF magnetic fields are ever implemented, this would definitely be an interesting addition.

(sorry for the necro-post)

[rkman]

It's a more better version of existing technology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetorquer

The purpose is the same as the reaction wheels we have in KSP.

And as others have pointed out, it's for attitude control only.

[Captain Sierra]

It's a more better version of existing technology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetorquer

The purpose is the same as the reaction wheels we have in KSP.

And as others have pointed out, it's for attitude control only.

To my understanding, it does allow translation, however, this requires a series of satellites in formation and the CoM of the formation as a whole does not change.

[chaos_forge]

In my understanding, tethers actually can actually be used to accelerate a single craft and not just rotate it.

Tether propulsion

As part of a tether propulsion system, crafts can use long, strong conductors (though not all tethers are conductive) to change the orbits of spacecraft. It has the potential to make space travel significantly cheaper. It is a simplified, very low-budget magnetic sail. It can be used either to accelerate or brake an orbiting spacecraft. When direct current is pumped through the tether, it exerts a Lorentz force against the magnetic field, and the tether accelerates the spacecraft.

In 2012, the company Star Technology and Research was awarded a $1.9 million contract to qualify a tether propulsion system for an orbital debris removal.