초록 ▼

A traveling-field, magnetic propulsion system and operating method is provided for achieving economical space travel. The system is based upon designing the vehicle in the form of a single-stage streamlined circular toroidal airfoil containing a thin-walled superconducting solenoid. It is initially

A traveling-field, magnetic propulsion system and operating method is provided for achieving economical space travel. The system is based upon designing the vehicle in the form of a single-stage streamlined circular toroidal airfoil containing a thin-walled superconducting solenoid. It is initially launched vertically off the earth's surface into a vacuum environment at 125 km using conventional rocket propulsion. It is then accelerated along a high-inclination trajectory by a traveling repulsive magnetic field generated by ejecting an easily ionizable low-density gas cloud in the vehicle's magnetic field and transmitting a high-power, plane-polarized, microwave beam at the cloud tuned to the electron cyclotron resonant frequency. The transmitter is constructed horizontally on the earth's surface as an electronically-steered, phased array several hundred meters in diameter energized by a large superconducting energy storage system. The transmitter will be able to transmit a converging CW microwave beam at the vehicle with very high power to magnetically accelerate it over great distances without atmospheric breakdown. The method can be used as a general high-speed earth or space transportation system by catapulting suborbital or orbital payloads, or by catapulting multikiloton payloads to other celestial bodies with mass ratios below that of long-range aircraft.

대표청구항 ▼

[What is claimed is:] [1.]superconducting coil means mounted on said vehicle for generating a primary magnetic field;an ionizable gas stored in said vehicle;means for passing said ionizable gas through a portion of said primary magnetic field generated by said coil means;means for transmitting a mic

[What is claimed is:] [1.]superconducting coil means mounted on said vehicle for generating a primary magnetic field;an ionizable gas stored in said vehicle;means for passing said ionizable gas through a portion of said primary magnetic field generated by said coil means;means for transmitting a microwave beam into said magnetic field with a frequency designed to produce electron cyclotron resonance with free electrons of said gas thereby creating a traveling secondary repulsive magnetic field behind said vehicle; andmeans for spinning a circular mass mounted inside said vehicle for generating angular momentum to prevent said superconducting coil means from flipping over by magnetic torque.