In a message dated 19/02/2007 21:50:04 GMT Standard Time, lu7abf@amsat.org.ar writes:

In thinking on a future satellite project, this question was made.

Argument is: if when satellite is in the north, a north magnetic field is applied on z plane, will satellite raise orbit ? Same but opposite on south. Considering limited energy available could this raise be significant if applied on all orbits ?.

Tks for any answer or argument.

lu7abf, Pedro Converso lu7abf@amsat.org.ar www.amsat.org.ar

Ohhhh. How do you generate a north or south 'pole' in isolation? Probably not possible so you would generate opposing forces that cancel. I realise that you can have one pole closer to the earth than the other, but given that the relative sizes makes the satellites magnet 'infinately small' in comparison to the earth I think the forces would be virtually equal and opposite. Hence magnetorquing can generate rotational forces but not 'thrusting' type forces.

Sound reasonable?

73

David