Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion (M2P2) NIAC Award No. 07600-010 Final Report: May 1999

Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion (M2P2) is an advanced plasma propulsion system that will enable spacecraft to attain unprecedented speeds for minimal energy and mass requirements. The high efficiency and specific impulse attained by the system is due to its utilization of ambient energy, in this case the energy of the solar wind, to provide the enhanced thrust. Coupling to the solar wind is produced through a large-scale magnetic bubble or mini-magnetosphere generated by the injection of plasma into the magnetic field supported by solenoid coils on the spacecraft. This inflation is driven by electromagnetic processes so that the material and deployment problems associated with mechanical sails are eliminated. Because all the enabling technology is presently available, the proposed work could have almost immediate and monumental impact on NASA's long range strategic plans for missions out of the solar system and between the planets. Specifications and proposed plans for assembling and testing of a prototype suitable for an Interstellar Precursor Mission are given. For a nominal configuration utilizing only solar electric cells for power, the M2P2 will produce a magnetic cloud approximately 15 – 20 km in radius, which would accelerate a 70 – 140 kg payload to speeds of about 50 – 80 km/s. This system would require only a few kilowatts of power to support the solenoid field coils and the plasma injection, and only a few tens of kilograms of propellant is needed. Successful testing of the system would revolutionize exploration of the solar system with its unprecedented mobility while utilizing only solar electric cells. If larger electric systems become available that could provide ten of kilowatts of power or if the power is augmented by a 100 W radioisotope system then speeds in excess of 100 km/s can be attained. The work supported in the 6 month Phase I was focused in three areas: (1) Specification of the overall design parameters and identify all components of the enabling technology that would be required for the M2P2, (2) Numerical simulation of the physical processes governing the deployment of the mini-magnetosphere and the quantitative determination of the plasma and energy requirements to sustain the system and the total force that the system can achieve, and (3) Design of a laboratory prototype that could be used in the future to validate the fundamental principles of the M2P2 system.