A Possible Propellantless Propulsion System

David P. Goodwin

U.S. Dept. of Energy, Ofice of High Energy and Nuclear Physics,

19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874
(301)-903-6474, Dave.Goodwin@science.doe.

Abstract. A newly developed high power solid state switch might have enabled a propellantless propulsion
system (PPS); based on the Lenzs Law interactions of a very rapidly pulsed magnet. Although only limited
propulsion would be provided with each pulse, and then only during the 100-nanosecond ramp-up of the
pulse, the newly developed switch produces 400,000 high power pulses per second. A PPS of this type
would consist of an electrical power supply, the switch, and a solenoid with a plate on one end to produce an
asymmetry in the magnetic field. Other applications might include propulsion with reduced thermal and
acoustical signatures, and a means to dampen inertia.

MOTIVATION/PURPOSE/APPROACH
A goal of NASAs Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program (Millis, 2000) is to develop a propellantless
propulsion system (PPS). In FY 2000, an IR-100 award was earned by Diversified Technologies of Bedford, MA
for the development of a high power solid-state switch. The development of this switch might have enabled a PPS,
based on Lenzs Law interactions of a very rapidly pulsed magnet. Although only limited propulsion would be
provided with each pulse, and then only during the 100-nanosecond ramp-up of the pulse, the newly developed
switch produces 400,000 high power pulses per second. A PPS of this type would consist of an electrical supply, the
switch, and a solenoid with a plate on one end to provide an asymmetry in the magnetic field.

METHODOLOGY/RESULTS
Since the new switch has a pulse rate 80 times faster than previously available, the mass of the magnet can be
reduced by a factor of 80. Compared to previous switches, the new switch is more compact, of lower mass, and 50
times more energy efficient (0.2% energy loss versus 10%). The switch produces a 100-nanosecond pulse every
2,400 nano-seconds, which requires about 2,500 feet of cable for the magnet (previous switches would have required
200,000 feet). The switch operates at 9,000 volts and 30 amperes (250 KWe, allowing for the ramp-ups and ramp-
downs). Another recent improvement in technology which contributes to the possible enabling of a PPS, are the
low temperature superconductors that have recently become available which operate at 2,000 amperes per square
millimeter; i.e., 10,000 times more than a non-superconductor (Barletta, 1999). High temperature superconductors
probably will not be able to tolerate the magnetic fields andor the pulsed power, and carry 20 times less amperage.

Until the above referenced improvements in technology, the motion produced by pulsed magnets has been an
experimental interference. The motion is produced due to the Lenzs Law interaction of a pulsed magnet with an
attached component producing an asymmetric magnet field. A large magnet for a particle physics moved about a
centimeter every time the upgraded magnet was powered up, due to an attached component from a previous
experiment (Carroll, 1994). Since the component was no longer required, it was removed and the motion ceased. A
small magnet for a radio frequency heating through a hollow cathode fusion experiment at Ohio State University
moved several centimeters with the once per second pulses of 2,000 volts and 600 amperes. Since the attached
asymmetric component could not be removed, the magnet was allowed to slide back into its original position. In

CP552,Space Technology and Applications Infernational Forum-2001,edited by M. S.El-Genk

0 2001 American Institute of Physics 1-56396-980-7/01/$18.00
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this case, other interactions were discounted because the experiment was located in an upper floor, with concrete
block walls and with no rebar in the floor.

The form of Lenzs Law for a loop with fixed area is: V = -A (dB/dt), where V is the voltage, A is the area of the
plate, and B is the magnetic field. The plate must be insulated to prevent the energy from being carried away as a
current. To provide continuous propulsion, at least 25 solenoids (each with 100 feet of wire and a plate) are required
for a switch with the waveform discussed above. Modifying the waveform, by adding more switches andor
modifying the switches, could increase the pulses per second and reduce the size and mass of the system. Further
system optimization would be to increase the amperage (superconducting magnets have been run at kiloamps); to
modify the waveform of the switch (to provide more of the pulse in the ramp-up and less in the flat-top); and to
reduce the size, mass, and complexity of the interfaces between the power supply and the switch and between the
switch and the magnet (e.g., reducing the need for transformers).

SIGNIFICANCE/APPLICATIONS
Using supplied electrical power, a proof-of-principle laboratory experiment could use the commercial-off-the-shelf
(COTS) switch and a commercially available (custom designed) superconducting magnet, from a company such as
American Magnetics, Inc. of Oak Ridge, TN. A sub-orbital demonstration would require an on-board electrical
power supply, such as the 30 KWe microturbine from Capstone Turbine Corporation of Chatsworth, CA. Since
the switch only provides propulsion during the 100-nanosecond ramp-up (4% of the 250 KWe duty cycle), 3
switches would be needed to match the microturbine. With the 25 magnets noted about, these 3 switches would
provide a total of 30 million pulses per second. The mass of the demonstration vehicle would need to be kept below
about 300 kilograms (including about 1 kg of fuelioxidizer per KWHe). The system could be ground tested with
externally supplied power, initially using 1 switch and 1 magnet; then adding additional switches and magnets; and
finally using on-board power.

For launches, KW/kg is the critical factor, whereas, for transits through the solar system, KWH/kg is the critical
factor. In the FY 2001 budget, the U.S. Dept. of Energy requested funds for the development for a 50 KWe space
reactor in 2005, leading to a 2 MWt space reactor in 2010 (Houts, 2000; Poston, 2000). Present technology for
electrical power from a space reactor requires 40 kg per KWe; i.e., about 2 tons for the 50 KWe system (Lipinski,
2000). A 50 KWe reactor would be suitable for a robotic mission, such as the precursor Interstellar Probe Project
(Liewer, 2000). With a 29% conversion efficiency (Lipinski, 2000), 2 - 2 MWt reactors could provide 1.1+ MWe,
which may be suitable for a manned mission. By providing an acceleration of up to 0.2 g for these applications, the
transit times for robotic missions might be reduced from years to months and for manned missions from months to
weeks.

Without the use of propellants, this type of system, may be able to provide propulsion with a reduced thermal
signature for aerospace craft (e.g., the Space Maneuver Vehicle) and a reduced acoustical signature for navel vessels
(surface ships and submarines). With this type of propulsion system, it might be possible to dampen inertia. Using
< 500 femtosecond pulses, a 10 g acceleration could be divided into 0.01 angstrom increments, possibly allowing
the biological cells time to recover from the high acceleration. This approach would lend itself to microfabrication.
For example, using the 3-switch (1.2 megahertz) system discussed above, an integrated circuit with a total of over 40
million micromagnets would be required. Such a system would also increase the conversion efficiency (by more
rapidly varying the magnetic field in the above equation).

CONCLUSIONS
If the advances in technology have enabled a PPS using a very rapidly pulsed magnet, the transit times and costs
might be substantially reduced for crewed missions to Mars and possibly the outer planets; and for robotic missions
to the planets and the outer solar system. By possibly eliminating the use of propellants and aerobraking, the
vibrations and acceleratioddeacceleration hom launchldeorbit might be significantly reduced.

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The development of the high power solid state switch was funded, in part, by the U S . Dept. of Energy, Office of
High Energy and Nuclear Physics.

REFERENCES
Barletta, W.: et al. "1999 Accelerator and Fusion Research and Development Research Highlights," published by the Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, page 4-14.
Carroll, A,, et al.: "Searching for Color Transparency", (httP://www.phys.psu.edu/LEPS/EVA/eva.html).
Houts, M., et al., "Utilizing Fission Technology to Enable Rapid and Affordable Access to any Point in the Solar System," in
proceedings of Space Technology and Applications International Forum (STAIF-2000); edited by M. El-Genk, AIP
Conference Proceedings, 504, New York, 2000, pp. 1182-1 187.
Liewer, P. (http://interstellar.ipl.nasa.gov/).
Lipinski, R., et al., "NEP for Kuiper Belt Object Rendezvous Mission," in proceedings of Space Technology and Applications
International Forum (STAIF-2000), edited by M. El-Genk, AIP Conference Proceedings, 504, New York, 2000, pp. 1192-
1201.
Millis, M. (http://www,grc.nasa.gov/www/bpp/).
Poston, D., et al., "Fission-Based Electric Propulsion for Interstellar Precursor Mission," in proceedings of Space Technology and
Applications International Forum (STAIF-2000/, edited by M. El-Genk, AIP Conference Proceedings, 504, New York, 2000,
pp. 974-983.

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