Posted on 07/14/2017 12:22:57 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Thanks to improvements in technology, small satellites – which are typically defined as those that weight less than 500 km (1,100 lbs) – can perform tasks that were once reserved for larger ones.
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Little wonder then why researchers are looking at various types of microthrusters to ensure that these satellites can maneuver effectively.
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MTU research team began conducting a study that considered ferrofluids as a possible solution. As noted, ferrofluids are ionic liquids that become active when exposed to a magnetic field, forming peaks that emit small amounts of ions.
These peaks then return to a natural state when the magnetic field is removed, a phenomena known as Rosenweig instability.
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“We’re working with a unique material called an ionic liquid ferrofluid. When we put a magnet underneath a small pool of the ferrofluid, it turns into a beautiful hedgehog structure of aligned peaks. When we apply a strong electric field to that array of peaks, each one emits an individual micro-jet of ions.”
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“We learned that the magnetic field has a large effect in preconditioning the fluid electric stress.”
Unlike conventional electrospray thrusters – which generate propulsion with electrical charges that send tiny jets of fluid through microscopic needles – a ferrofluid electrospray thruster would be able to do away with these needles, which are expensive to manufacture and vulnerable to damage.
Instead, the thruster they are proposing would be able to assemble itself out of its own propellant, would rely on no fragile parts, and would essentially be indestructible. It would also present advantages over conventional plasma thrusters, which are apparently unreliable when scaled down for small satellites.
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
Still Basic Newtonian in nature...
wake me when they have figured out how to take 1 joule of electrical energy and have it directly translated into slightly less than 1 joule of kinetic energy in one direction without having to toss a mass out the rear.
They should call them “impulse thrusters”. :-)
Stranger than a mass of 500 km? Hard to wrap my mind around that.
Think “500kg” and see if that helps.
Sounds promising once they iron out a few details.
Sounds promising once they ion out a few details.
So close.
It will take eons to iron out the iron ions.
(say that ten times fast)
“ionic liquid ferrofluid”
I’ll have a double on the rocks with a twist of magnetite, please.
Isaac: "I've discovered the Law of Gravity!"
Audience: "We don't care a fig, Newton!"
Emitting lots of ions develops enough power to fly a paper airplane. Maybe.
But the trick is that if you are already in space and can maintain that for months of years without using much mass, then you can get up to wicked speeds.
Won't oil evaporate in a vacuum?
Ferrofluid can stain the heck out of your kitchen, especially the grout around the tiles in the backsplash.
Don’t ask me how I know this...
Go Michigan Tech! The only school I know of that has its own shooting ranges!
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