Interplanetary Medium as Fuel for Plasma Thrusters

TL;DR

This paper explores the feasibility of using interplanetary matter as a fuel source for plasma thrusters, leveraging solar radiation for ionization and acceleration to enable interplanetary spacecraft propulsion.

Contribution

It introduces a novel concept of utilizing captured space environment as fuel, analyzing the technical feasibility based on environmental density, spacecraft velocity, and solar energy.

Findings

Feasibility depends on environmental density and spacecraft velocity.

Both pulsed and continuous plasma thruster operations are possible.

Solar radiation can effectively power ionization and acceleration processes.

Abstract

We examine the use of the interplanetary substance as a possible fuel for spacecraft plasma thrusters for interplanetary flights. The solar radiation is considered as an energy source for the ionization and the acceleration of particles of captured space environment that is used as drop weight. The method of capturing the space environment, which is dependent on its density, the velocity of the spacecraft, and the power of solar radiation, defines the technical feasibility of this scheme. Both pulsed and continuous operations of the plasma accelerator are possible under some conditions as shown in the estimates.