This post will be on the shorter end of the spectrum as it is more a personal unanswered question than anything else.
One of the many ways to power spacecraft and satellites is the use of ion engines.
Over the past several years physicists and engineers have been working on making particle accelerators smaller and more energy efficient. These shoebox sized particle accelerators might serve as a means to augment the capacity of a propulsion system, individual particles, super accelerated could have a very high specific impulse. Who knows what the ramifications would be for space exploration?
Follow Up 12/2/15: I wanted to note, part of the challenge of a particle accelerator being used as a means of space craft propulsion is the question of power required per unit of thrust. There are articles about a seemingly magical drive that some researchers claim can provide something along the lines of a Newton of thrust for a few kilowatts, from a youtube video, which I will need to hunt down, the presenter notes that if a ratio of a few newtons of thrust can be gained by each kilowatt of power put into the engine system, it would revolutionize our ability to explore the solar system. Under its current design the shoe box accelerator is far from optimized to shooting out a large volume of high speed particles, so first engineers would need to investigate the viability of such a modification from a cost benefits stand point. If a micro-accelerator can improve the fuel efficiency of space craft the impact could be tremendous, here's hoping we keep solving problems.
One of the many ways to power spacecraft and satellites is the use of ion engines.
Over the past several years physicists and engineers have been working on making particle accelerators smaller and more energy efficient. These shoebox sized particle accelerators might serve as a means to augment the capacity of a propulsion system, individual particles, super accelerated could have a very high specific impulse. Who knows what the ramifications would be for space exploration?
Follow Up 12/2/15: I wanted to note, part of the challenge of a particle accelerator being used as a means of space craft propulsion is the question of power required per unit of thrust. There are articles about a seemingly magical drive that some researchers claim can provide something along the lines of a Newton of thrust for a few kilowatts, from a youtube video, which I will need to hunt down, the presenter notes that if a ratio of a few newtons of thrust can be gained by each kilowatt of power put into the engine system, it would revolutionize our ability to explore the solar system. Under its current design the shoe box accelerator is far from optimized to shooting out a large volume of high speed particles, so first engineers would need to investigate the viability of such a modification from a cost benefits stand point. If a micro-accelerator can improve the fuel efficiency of space craft the impact could be tremendous, here's hoping we keep solving problems.
No comments:
Post a Comment