Gratus, Jonathan and Tucker, Robin (2003) An improved method of gravicraft propulsion. Acta Astronautica, 53 (3). pp. 161-172. ISSN 0094-5765
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
There is an interaction between gravitational tidal forces and the instantaneous moment of inertia of any massive extended body. A mechanism that changes the altitude of a spacecraft orbiting a central mass by periodically changing its instantaneous moment of inertia tensor is discussed. This can be achieved most simply by connecting two bodies with a tether of adjustable length and does not rely on any chemical propellant. By using a series of reasonable approximations, a formula for the rate of change of height is given in terms of accessible data. This formula predicts that by suitably varying the length of a 50 km connecting tether a connected system can rise at about 300 m an hour in low earth orbit.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Journal or Publication Title: | Acta Astronautica |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QC Physics |
| Departments: | Faculty of Science and Technology > Physics |
| ID Code: | 10560 |
| Deposited By: | Mrs Yaling Zhang |
| Deposited On: | 17 Jul 2008 15:17 |
| Refereed?: | Yes |
| Published?: | Published |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jul 2012 14:50 |
| Identification Number: | |
| URI: | http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/10560 |
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