Systems analysis of electrodynamic tethers

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/3.26366· OSTI ID:7071588

Samantha, R I; Hastings, D E; Ahedo, E ^[1]

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1. MIT, Cambridge, MA (United States)

A dynamic simulation model is developed and employed in a new system study to investigate the performance of electrodynamic tethers, both as power generators and thrusters. The electron collection performance of a contactor and a bare wire tether, both separately and in combination, are compared and contrasted. The power and thrust generated by a bare wire tether is found to have a higher dependence on the geomagnetic and ionospheric fluctuations. However, depending on the performance of the contactor, the combination of a bare tether and contactor can substantially boost performance for power generation. As a pure thruster, the contactor tether is examined at constant current, voltage, thrust, and power. It is found that the best mode of operation is with constant power, with resulting power/thrust ratios better than those for ion or magnetoplasmadynamic engines. It is concluded that tethers offer greater potential than previously envisioned. 13 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7071588
• Journal Information: Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets; (United States), Vol. 29:3; ISSN 0022-4650
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
THRUSTERS
CHARGE COLLECTION
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
HYBRID SYSTEMS
IONOSPHERIC EFFECTS
POWER GENERATION
PROPULSION
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
MAGNETIC FIELDS
POWER SUPPLIES
SIMULATION
300800* - Direct Energy Conversion- Miscellaneous Converters