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super-precise ionic thruster
On Apr 11, 3:19*pm, Bluuuue Rajah Bluuuuue@Rajah. wrote:
Yousuf Khan wrote : Small Engine For the Big Job of Testing Theory of Relativity | Universe Today "Twelve thrusters will be used for the LISA Pathfinder. Working together with another propulsions system designed by NASA, the thrusters should yield directional control at least 100 times more accurate than any spacecraft before; down to a millionth of a millimeter. " http://www.universetoday.com/2009/04...r-the-big-job- of -testing-theory-of-relativity/ FEEP is the name of this widget. "FEEP technology has been earmarked for a broad range of other missions, including precision formation flying." This is necessary for extraplanetary interferometry, the technique on the Terrestrial Planet Finder. "Through capillary action—a phenomenon associated with surface tension—caesium flows between a pair of metal surfaces that end in a razor-sharp slit. The caesium stays at the mouth of the slit until an electric field is generated. This causes tiny cones to form in the liquid metal which have charged atoms shooting from their tips to create thrust." This paragraph should reference a diagram. "While the thrust of other ion engines is measured in millinewtons, FEEP’s performance is assessed in terms of micronewtons. *The engine has a thrust range of 0.1 - 150 micronewtons, with a resolution better than 0.1 micronewtons in a time response of 190 milliseconds or better." "LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) will fly to L1" Satellites orbit L stable points. *They must have chosen L1 specifically to test the engine, because it's unstable as well as having radiation and solar wind pressure. * Being in earth's shadow, L2 is a popular place to put outward looking EM satellites. *L2 may avoid radiation pressure, but this isn't mandatory, since shade doesn't help a gravitational interferometer. *I wonder what's currently parked there. * I wonder how far L2 is from the end of earth's magentotail, which also points directly away from the sun. *An L1 sat will be more greatly affected by solar flares, but we also shed outward plasma blobs by reconnection, and I wonder if these blobs fly directly across L2, or if they trail it slightly via our orbital motion. * I wonder how magnetotail blobs compare to solar flares, in destructive energy. By far the least gravitational influence is within our Selene L1. ~ BG |
#12
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super-precise ionic thruster
Dr J R Stockton wrote:
In sci.astro message , Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:19:14, Yousuf Khan posted: Small Engine For the Big Job of Testing Theory of Relativity | Universe Today "Twelve thrusters will be used for the LISA Pathfinder. Working together with another propulsions system designed by NASA, the thrusters should yield directional control at least 100 times more accurate than any spacecraft before; down to a millionth of a millimeter. A source which considers a millionth of a millimeter to be an appropriate measure of directional control is one i8n which confidence should not be reposed. What's "i8n"? Is that some new experiment? Yousuf Khan |
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super-precise ionic thruster
In sci.astro message , Sun, 12 Apr 2009
16:54:03, Yousuf Khan posted: Dr J R Stockton wrote: In sci.astro message , Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:19:14, Yousuf Khan posted: Small Engine For the Big Job of Testing Theory of Relativity | Universe Today "Twelve thrusters will be used for the LISA Pathfinder. Working together with another propulsions system designed by NASA, the thrusters should yield directional control at least 100 times more accurate than any spacecraft before; down to a millionth of a millimeter. A source which considers a millionth of a millimeter to be an appropriate measure of directional control is one i8n which confidence should not be reposed. What's "i8n"? Is that some new experiment? No, a simple typo in this case. -- (c) John Stockton, Surrey, UK. Turnpike v6.05 MIME. Web URL:http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/ - FAQish topics, acronyms, & links. Proper = 4-line sig. separator as above, a line exactly "-- " (SonOfRFC1036) Do not Mail News to me. Before a reply, quote with "" or " " (SonOfRFC1036) |
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