Remaining in orbit can be difficult, at least for lower orbits that are more impacted by Earths environment. Such orbits likewise come with benefits, such as better vantage points for new industrial operations such as Earth Observation and telecoms connections.
One of the biggest problems with keeping Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) is fuel. At those elevations, usually considered listed below 450 km from the surface area or about as high as the Space Station, the environment drags on anything orbiting, which needs a consistent push from an engine to combat. Generally, large satellites have a reserve of fuel left over particularly to balance out that drag, whereas extra launches continuously refuel systems like the ISS.
An intense death in the atmosphere awaits those without the benefit of a lifetimes supply of fuel or constant refueling objectives. Many systems would suffer such a fate, as the cost of simply shipping adequate fuel to that orbit outweighs a few of the advantages of the data they would return. So what if a satellite operator could keep their orbit stable with no extra fuel?
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UT video describing the mechanics of ion engines.
Get In the Atmospheric-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) system. It takes in climatic particles, which are still reasonably abundant even at 450 km up, and utilizes them to sustain an electrical ion drive. Similar propulsion systems have actually formerly been evaluated in space without gravity, but none have actually up until now been operational inside an environment. That may alter quickly.
A number of groups in the US, EU, and Japan are looking into potential ABEP systems, though the ESA contingent appears the farthest along. Taking funding from ESAs Horizon 2020 program, their job, called DISCOVERER, and based at the University of Stuttgart, looked into 2 main components of any ABEP. In the DISCOVERER system style, a climatic intake would feed climatic particles to an ion engine, while a plasma thrust would ionize those particles and eject them out the back of the craft.
Basically that would permit any satellite geared up with such a system to have a limitless fuel source and even be able to refuel other craft in the location. But the innovation is a long way off from providing some benefits, so the ESA team released a sort of plan of attack for the technology of ABEP propulsion systems that looks at a number of possible usage cases and evaluates whether present technology would depend on snuff to fulfill the needs of the application.
Real Engineering did a video on an ion propulsion plane.Credit– Real Engineering YouTube Channel
On Mars, on the other hand, the lower atmospheric drag makes such missions more feasible. There isnt exactly a high need for Martian orbit refueling at this point in space infrastructure advancement.
Even if there were, there are other prospective threats for ABEPs. In Earths orbit, the components of any craft would be subjected to elemental oxygen, which has an extremely corrosive impact on parts.
For now, all ABEPs are still in the prototyping stage, and it will be a while before any objective flies. Theres still a lot of modeling work to be done, however, including looking at what the feasibility of orbital maintenance or refueling missions would appear like on other atmosphere-shrouded worlds such as Titan. This classy solution is still at an early stage in its advancement cycle, however it might possibly assist fix a very thorny issue.
Discover more: Vaidya et al.– Development and analysis of unique mission situations based on Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) UT– Ion Engines Could Work on Earth too, to Make Silent, Solid-State AircraftUT– Ion Propulsion: The Key to Deep Space ExplorationUT– Lunar Gateway Will Maintain its Orbit With a 6 kW ion Engine
Lead Image: Image of an ion engine under test.Credit– NASA
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Staying in orbit can be challenging, at least for lower orbits that are more affected by Earths atmosphere. Such orbits likewise come with advantages, such as better vantage points for brand-new business operations such as Earth Observation and telecoms connections. One of the biggest issues with preserving Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) is fuel. At those altitudes, normally thought about below 450 km from the surface area or about as high as the Space Station, the environment drags on anything orbiting, which requires a consistent push from an engine to neutralize. According to the paper, orbits in between 180-250 km are the sweet area for the type of ABEP engines presently going through testing.
Responses with Joe explains why ion thrusters are so intriguing.Credit– Joe Scott YouTube Channel
The first of those applications would be to maintain a steady orbit around the Earth at a height of less than 450km. Fairly basic in idea however still challenging to achieve in practice. According to the paper, orbits in between 180-250 km are the sweet area for the kind of ABEP engines presently going through screening. Any higher and there would not suffice atmospheric particles to serve as fuel. Any lower and the climatic drag would be more than the thruster might combat.
Extrapolating to other use case scenarios, the researchers took a look at what an orbital upkeep mission around Mars would appear like. While not quite as practical as an Earth orbit, given Mars considerably less dense atmosphere, an ABEP objective would likely be able to preserve a Martian orbit of between 130-160 km without the need for external fuel.
Taking it even a step even more, ABEP-powered satellites could even provide extra fuel to other craft that launch without their own system of gathering environment to use as fuel. With existing technological levels, this looks less feasible around Earth, with only microsatellites requiring the amount of fuel an ABEP refueling craft would supply.
