Skip to comments.
Air-Breathing Electric Thruster Could Keep Satellites in Low Earth Orbit for Years
Universe Today ^
| 03/09/2018
Posted on 03/10/2018 9:08:01 PM PST by BenLurkin
click here to read article
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-25 next last
1
posted on
03/10/2018 9:08:02 PM PST
by
BenLurkin
To: BenLurkin
Inspired by Star Trek, as is a lot of our current tech.
2
posted on
03/10/2018 9:28:13 PM PST
by
piytar
(http://www.truthrevolt.org/videos/bill-whittle-number-one-bullet)
To: BenLurkin
A 99 cent can of Baked Beans might work as well.
“In space, no one can hear you toot”.
To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
A 99 cent can of Baked Beans might work as well.
Beans Beans the magical fruit, The more you eat the more you toot!
To: piytar; BenLurkin
The development of air-breathing electric thrusters could allow for an entirely new class of satellite that could operate with the fringes of Mars, Titans and other bodies atmospheres for years at a time. I wonder how this thruster would handle the planet wide dust storms on Mars. I understand that the dust can reach high in to the atmosphere.
5
posted on
03/10/2018 10:40:16 PM PST
by
Pontiac
(The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.L)
To: BenLurkin
Solar sails are the easy solution. Turn the sail 90 degrees to the sun to boost velocity. Turn the sail oblique to the sun when it would decrease velocity. The sails could be solar cells that power the satellite. This would be very easy engineering.
6
posted on
03/10/2018 10:45:26 PM PST
by
cpdiii
To: BenLurkin
Anybody else have the same instant sick thought as to the term “electric thruster”?
7
posted on
03/10/2018 10:48:50 PM PST
by
Bonemaker
(invictus maneo)
To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
“A 99 cent can of Baked Beans might work as well./”
Couple of those could get you up to WARP in deep space.
8
posted on
03/10/2018 10:50:55 PM PST
by
Bonemaker
(invictus maneo)
To: cpdiii
Forgot to add that if the satellite was rotating at the proper rate, one revolution per orbit, the sails would be at their close optimum without adjustment.
9
posted on
03/10/2018 10:52:42 PM PST
by
cpdiii
To: BenLurkin
does the exhaust reconstitute into air molecules?
10
posted on
03/10/2018 10:54:47 PM PST
by
blueplum
( "...this moment is your moment: it belongs to you... " President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20, 2017)
To: blueplum
It would be less than molecule size when it comes out of the end of the drive- a stream of ions not air particles.
To: Pontiac
Just more reaction mass...
12
posted on
03/11/2018 1:42:51 AM PST
by
TXnMA
("Allah": Satan's current alias; "0bama": Allah's stooge; "Moderate Muslims": Allah's useful idiots.)
To: cpdiii
Solar sails are the easy solution. Turn the sail 90 degrees to the sun to boost velocity. Turn the sail oblique to the sun when it would decrease velocity. The sails could be solar cells that power the satellite. This would be very easy engineering. I don't think the sails can be "optimized" by turning. Unlike a sailboat, there is no "foil" to prevent the satellite from undesirable turning (or spinning).
13
posted on
03/11/2018 1:57:12 AM PST
by
Does so
(Let's make the word Mohammedism--adding it to other ISMs...)
To: Davy Crocket
And to finish the rhyme.
The more you toot the better you feel so eat your beans at every meal.
14
posted on
03/11/2018 3:05:12 AM PDT
by
mistfree
(It's a very uncreative man who can't think of more than one way to spell a word.)
To: TXnMA
Sand is more abrasive than interstellar gas
No moving parts to wear out but I think heating elements resistance rises when they get thinner.
15
posted on
03/11/2018 3:20:50 AM PDT
by
Pontiac
(The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.L)
To: BenLurkin
We only have one atmosphere.
Could this eventually deplete or injure it?
16
posted on
03/11/2018 3:27:08 AM PDT
by
Jim Noble
(Single payer is coming. Which kind do you like?)
To: BenLurkin
Oh wonder of wonders... will be a big boon to transforming the earth into a Disco.
17
posted on
03/11/2018 3:29:30 AM PDT
by
C210N
(Republicans sign check fronts; 'Rats sign check backs.)
To: Jim Noble
"We only have one atmosphere.Could this eventually deplete or injure it?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes -- in 4.3746 X 1027 years...
18
posted on
03/11/2018 3:52:44 AM PDT
by
TXnMA
("Allah": Satan's current alias; "0bama": Allah's stooge; "Moderate Muslims": Allah's useful idiots.)
To: Pontiac
In order for solid particles to be in suspension at that altitude, they would have to be colloidal in size or smaller. And, they would be just about as rare as oxygen atoms in low lunar orbit.
19
posted on
03/11/2018 4:00:04 AM PDT
by
TXnMA
("Allah": Satan's current alias; "0bama": Allah's stooge; "Moderate Muslims": Allah's useful idiots.)
To: Pontiac
Come to think of it, I doubt that resistance heating would be employed. My guess is that there would be a plethora of pointed, field-emission electrodes -- as used in a Coates & Welter field emission scanning electron microscope (in lieu of an I2R-heated filament emitter, as is common in other SEM designs).
20
posted on
03/11/2018 4:10:42 AM PDT
by
TXnMA
("Allah": Satan's current alias; "0bama": Allah's stooge; "Moderate Muslims": Allah's useful idiots.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-25 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson