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New System Propels Satellites Without Propellants

Posted by samzenpus on from the gliding-into-the-future dept.

cylonlover writes "Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) are testing a new propulsion system ... inside the station. While this might seem like the height of recklessness, this particular system doesn't use rockets or propellants. Developed in the University of Maryland's Space Power and Propulsion Laboratory, this new electromagnetic propulsion technology called the Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System (RINGS) uses magnetic fields to move spacecraft as a way to increase service life and make satellite formation flying more practical."

7 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. Phew! by pr0nbot · · Score: 4, Funny

    "While this might seem like the height of recklessness, this particular system doesn't use rockets or propellants" ... just magnetic fields, so that's ok then, good think there's no electronic equipment up there or anything!

    (I'm sure they know what they're doing, it's just that the summary seemed retarded.)

    1. Re:Phew! by bondsbw · · Score: 5, Funny

      As an expert at Kerbal Space Program, I can say for sure that using such a system will result in crashing into the nearest moon. As does everything.

      --
      All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
    2. Re:Phew! by gman003 · · Score: 4, Funny

      As a KSP player, I'm impressed that you manage to get all of your craft out of the atmosphere without destroying themselves. Hell, some of mine collapse on the launch pad.

  2. Old news by oodaloop · · Score: 4, Funny

    This technology has been used in hoverboards since at least 2015.

    --
    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  3. From the article by Grantbridge · · Score: 4, Informative

    "Electromagnetic formation flight (EMFF) gets around this propellant problem by turning the satellites in a formation into electromagnets. By using a combination of magnets and reaction wheels, spacecraft in formation can move and change their attitude and even spin without propellant. Satellites can change their polarity to attract or repel one another, turn, or shift their relative positions in any manner that doesn't require changing the center of gravity for the entire formation." So its all about formation flying, the satellites will pull/push off each other to remain in the correct formation. They will still needs propellent to move the whole cluster, but they can stay in formation without using any fuel.

  4. Re:Reliance on magnetic fields? by Captain+Hook · · Score: 4, Informative

    Sounds like this is basically only useful to help maintain a low-power consumption orbit of heavenly bodies with strong magnetic fields(aka just earth in our solar system).

    You are right, but there are currently about 6000 man made satellites in orbit (only about half of which are functional) and only 70 odd probes which go beyond earths magnetosphere so it's not like a huge number of vehicles couldn't use this technology. Especially since Satellite life times are normally limited by propellant they can carry

    Also, just off the top of my head Jupiter and Saturn have magnetospheres.

    --
    These comments are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the other voices in my head.
  5. Re:MTBs by Yoda222 · · Score: 5, Informative

    MTB generate only torque. Here they speak of propulsion system. But if I understand correctly the article, it's more about changing the relative position/attitude of two (or more) spacecraft than "real" propulsion of one spacecraft alone. It's a technology for formation flying