17.08.2023, 11:16
Russia will create a perpetual motion machine for satellites
Source: OREANDA-NEWS
OREANDA-NEWS The designers of the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), together with specialists from Moscow State University, are engaged in the development of a propulsion system for satellites designed to operate in low orbits, the height of which is about 200 km. It will create thrust using gases from the atmosphere — nitrogen and oxygen.
The operating time of such a system, unlike traditional propulsion systems, is not limited by the fuel supply. With its help, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of spacecraft for such heights, which will also reduce the cost of their delivery to near-Earth space.
"We intend to use the remnants of the atmosphere that exist at these altitudes. To do this, you need to capture the flow of gases running into the satellite, compress it and feed it into the engine, where it will turn into plasma under the influence of electric energy received from solar panels. By acting on the plasma with electric fields, it is possible to accelerate ions and thus obtain reactive thrust," said Alexander Bogatyi, senior researcher at the Research Institute of Applied Mechanics and Electrodynamics of the MAI.
The device that the designers are working on, in addition to the engine itself, includes a system for collecting atmospheric gases, as well as a power supply and control system. The first two components of the installation have already been created, but they have not yet been combined into one. The exact parameters of the development will depend on the size and shape of a particular satellite and on which orbit it will fly. However, now experts are planning a power consumption level of up to 1 kW. According to their estimates, if the problems facing them are successfully solved, the device can be brought to the prototype stage within 5-7 years.
As explained in MAI, the placement of spacecraft in low orbit gives many advantages. For example, from such a height, it is possible to directly provide subscribers with communication without the need to use base stations. Thanks to this, you can "cover" the entire surface of the Earth with the Internet. However, to date, no country in the world has such technologies.
The engines that will be used in such spacecraft should have a higher resource than those that operate in high orbits, since at a distance of about 200 km from the Earth the satellite meets the resistance of the residual atmosphere, therefore it must work continuously.
The operating time of such a system, unlike traditional propulsion systems, is not limited by the fuel supply. With its help, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of spacecraft for such heights, which will also reduce the cost of their delivery to near-Earth space.
"We intend to use the remnants of the atmosphere that exist at these altitudes. To do this, you need to capture the flow of gases running into the satellite, compress it and feed it into the engine, where it will turn into plasma under the influence of electric energy received from solar panels. By acting on the plasma with electric fields, it is possible to accelerate ions and thus obtain reactive thrust," said Alexander Bogatyi, senior researcher at the Research Institute of Applied Mechanics and Electrodynamics of the MAI.
The device that the designers are working on, in addition to the engine itself, includes a system for collecting atmospheric gases, as well as a power supply and control system. The first two components of the installation have already been created, but they have not yet been combined into one. The exact parameters of the development will depend on the size and shape of a particular satellite and on which orbit it will fly. However, now experts are planning a power consumption level of up to 1 kW. According to their estimates, if the problems facing them are successfully solved, the device can be brought to the prototype stage within 5-7 years.
As explained in MAI, the placement of spacecraft in low orbit gives many advantages. For example, from such a height, it is possible to directly provide subscribers with communication without the need to use base stations. Thanks to this, you can "cover" the entire surface of the Earth with the Internet. However, to date, no country in the world has such technologies.
The engines that will be used in such spacecraft should have a higher resource than those that operate in high orbits, since at a distance of about 200 km from the Earth the satellite meets the resistance of the residual atmosphere, therefore it must work continuously.
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