This is so on topic that it deserves to grow a life.
Since both the earth and the sun have magnetic fields it may be possible, at various times depending on the relative positions of the spacecraft, earth and sun to change the spacecraft velocity by using magnetic systems. This is an interesting subject that is sure to have been discussed before, but an internet search didn't come up with much at all. Some one on the list will probably be able to point to some research on the subject. For sure it would be a slow,computation intensive endeavor but I cannot see why it, theoretically at least, cannot be done.
Don ZL1THO AMSAT MEMBER 36225
Don,
not to be a wet blanket but Earths magnetic field is pretty weak.
"The strength of the field at the Earth's surface ranges from less than 30 microteslas (0.3 gauss) in an area including most of South America and South Africa to over 60 microteslas (0.6 gauss) around the magnetic poles in northern Canada and south of Australia, and in part of Siberia. "
http://www.crystalinks.com/earthsmagneticfield.html
I remember that it took a long time to reposition AO-40 and this was just for a angle change.
I suppose if the spacecraft had a very low mass and you could generate a extremely strong field of your own you might be able to do something. I always thought a ion engine might be interesting but we need something better than solar panels and NiCad batteries for a power source.
73
Kevin WA6FWF
Amsat-UK # 6505
----- Original Message ----- From: "don" donmc@xtra.co.nz To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 8:35 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] could we raise orbit etc.
This is so on topic that it deserves to grow a life.
Since both the earth and the sun have magnetic fields it may be possible, at various times depending on the relative positions of the spacecraft, earth and sun to change the spacecraft velocity by using magnetic systems. This is an interesting subject that is sure to have been discussed before, but an internet search didn't come up with much at all. Some one on the list will probably be able to point to some research on the subject. For sure it would be a slow,computation intensive endeavor but I cannot see why it, theoretically at least, cannot be done.
Don ZL1THO AMSAT MEMBER 36225 _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Kevin, I agree that the earth's field is miniscule, but that wasn't really the mechanism for orbital change that I was proposing. I was really thinking (?) about the interactions between the earth and the sun's ( or another planet...Jupiter?) magnetic fields. The Earths field is not a classic dipole system, and continually changes with (solar) activity. My thought was maybe these changes could be utilised to very slowly change the crafts attitude and increase its apogee. The magnet/coil systems presently used to control attitude do interact with the earths field, but this is done to maintain a reasonably stable orbit. If the units could be operated to coincide with changes in the fields encountered in space then the orbit will change! The trick would be predicting when to operate the systems to give the desired result. This would be immensely complicated but I suppose dreams are free.
This link may be interest, it shows some of the research being done in this area. I'm sure there are others, NASA has some good stuff as well.
http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bulletin121/bul121b_laakso.pdf
Thanks for your previous reply.
Don Zl1THO
Hi Don, ZL1THO
Viktor Kudielka, OE1VKW , viktor.kudielka@ieee.org is the right person to answere your question.
73" de
i8CVS Domenico
----- Original Message ----- From: "don" donmc@xtra.co.nz To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 5:35 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] could we raise orbit etc.
This is so on topic that it deserves to grow a life.
Since both the earth and the sun have magnetic fields it may be possible, at various times depending on the relative positions of the spacecraft, earth and sun to change the spacecraft velocity by using magnetic systems. This is an interesting subject that is sure to have been discussed before, but an internet search didn't come up with much at all. Some one on the list will probably be able to point to some research on the subject. For sure it would be a slow,computation intensive endeavor but I cannot see why it, theoretically at least, cannot be done.
Don ZL1THO AMSAT MEMBER 36225 _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
It seems to me there are "plenty" of launch opportunities available in the 600-1000 km region but none above that.
From an Amateur Radio perspective it seems to me that for those orbits the pass
time (~10 minutes) and the range is too short. Near circular polar orbits at either 1500 km (Oscar 7) or 4500 km are far more desirable.
The CubeSat platform, although somewhat restricted in size, does provide a cheap means of experimentation. Would it be possible to build something into this platform that would raise the orbit ?
73 Trevor M5AKA
--- i8cvs domenico.i8cvs@tin.it wrote:
Hi Don, ZL1THO
Viktor Kudielka, OE1VKW , viktor.kudielka@ieee.org is the right person to answere your question.
73" de
i8CVS Domenico
----- Original Message ----- From: "don" donmc@xtra.co.nz To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 5:35 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] could we raise orbit etc.
This is so on topic that it deserves to grow a life.
Since both the earth and the sun have magnetic fields it may be possible, at various times depending on the relative positions of the spacecraft, earth and sun to change the spacecraft velocity by using magnetic systems. This is an interesting subject that is sure to have been discussed before, but an internet search didn't come up with much at all. Some one on the list will probably be able to point to some research on the subject. For sure it would be a slow,computation intensive endeavor but I cannot see why it, theoretically at least, cannot be done.
Don ZL1THO AMSAT MEMBER 36225 _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------- Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society ------------- Support Essex Air Ambulance - Apply for the Chelmsford Award See CARS website http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/ ------------------------------------------------------------
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