RINGS propels satellites without propellants

"Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) are testing a
new propulsion system ... inside the station. While this might seem
like the height of recklessness, this particular system doesn't use
rockets or propellants. Developed in the University of Maryland's
Space Power and Propulsion Laboratory, this new electromagnetic
propulsion technology called the Resonant Inductive Near-field
Generation System (RINGS) uses magnetic fields to move spacecraft
as a way to increase service life and make satellite formation
flying more practical."

See:

http://www.gizmag.com/rings-satellite-iss/28712/

explained on 8/31/2013 :
"Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) are testing a
new propulsion system ... inside the station. While this might seem
like the height of recklessness, this particular system doesn't use
rockets or propellants. Developed in the University of Maryland's
Space Power and Propulsion Laboratory, this new electromagnetic
propulsion technology called the Resonant Inductive Near-field
Generation System (RINGS) uses magnetic fields to move spacecraft
as a way to increase service life and make satellite formation
flying more practical."

See:

http://www.gizmag.com/rings-satellite-iss/28712/

A couple of closeups of the devices in the gallery.

And the part they are being connected to, SPHERES, is also a player in
this article:

http://www.gizmag.com/spheres-vertigo-robot-3d-mapping/27247/

/dps

--
I have always been glad we weren't killed that night. I do not know
any particular reason, but I have always been glad.
_Roughing It_, Mark Twain

used his keyboard to write :

http://www.gizmag.com/rings-satellite-iss/28712/

A big take-away from the article:

quote
"While reduced gravity flights can only provide short, 15 – 20 second
tests at a time, the cumulative test time over the four-day campaign
provided extremely valuable data that will allow us to really get the
most from the test sessions that we’ll have on the International Space
Station," says Sedwick.
/quote

--
"This is all very fine, but let us not be carried away be excitement,
but ask calmly, how does this person feel about in in his cooler
moments next day, with six or seven thousand feet of snow and stuff on
top of him?"
_Roughing It_, Mark Twain.