Earth To Orbit and In Space Earth To Orbit and In Space Propulsion Systems:Propulsion Systems:

ION Drive TechnologyION Drive Technology

Jason Jayanty and Randy ParrillaJason Jayanty and Randy Parrilla

Mentors:Mentors:Dr. Siva Thangam and Dr. Siva Thangam and Professor Joseph MilesProfessor Joseph Miles

Ion Drive TechnologyIon Drive Technology

Ion Propulsion works by giving a positive charge to Ion Propulsion works by giving a positive charge to atoms inside the chamber using the shuttle’s solar atoms inside the chamber using the shuttle’s solar panels, magnetically pulling them towards the rear of the panels, magnetically pulling them towards the rear of the ship, and then thrusting them out through repulsion.ship, and then thrusting them out through repulsion.

On the way out, electrons are also emitted from the On the way out, electrons are also emitted from the shuttle so to re-neutralize those positively charge atoms shuttle so to re-neutralize those positively charge atoms and not cause damageand not cause damage

to the surroundings.to the surroundings.

Advancing ION DriveAdvancing ION Drive The Ionizing Chamber in an ION Drive system is composed of a The Ionizing Chamber in an ION Drive system is composed of a

radiation system. This system shoots out radiation (usually in the radiation system. This system shoots out radiation (usually in the form of X-Rays and other invisible light) at the gas particles which in form of X-Rays and other invisible light) at the gas particles which in turn ionizes them into a positively charged atom and an electron.turn ionizes them into a positively charged atom and an electron.

If we can make the radiation system smaller by having an even If we can make the radiation system smaller by having an even smaller energy creation source , that way we can provide for a more smaller energy creation source , that way we can provide for a more powerful x-ray while using the same or smaller amount of energy.powerful x-ray while using the same or smaller amount of energy.

Advancing ION Drive Advancing ION Drive (Cont)(Cont)

Another way to increase the strength of our ION Drive, we would Another way to increase the strength of our ION Drive, we would need to increase the speed at which the X-Rays hit the particle need to increase the speed at which the X-Rays hit the particle (more speed means more kinetic energy – K(more speed means more kinetic energy – KEE = ½MV = ½MV22). The Law of ). The Law of

Conservation of Energy tells us that most of that energy will be Conservation of Energy tells us that most of that energy will be transferred to the particles.transferred to the particles.

Today’s particle accelerators are very large and use an immense Today’s particle accelerators are very large and use an immense amount of energy. We plan on using an X-Ray turbine like system amount of energy. We plan on using an X-Ray turbine like system for accelerating these particles because the LINAC is insanely large for accelerating these particles because the LINAC is insanely large and would not fit in our shuttle.and would not fit in our shuttle.

Lithium Reactions for ION DriveLithium Reactions for ION Drive Electric Propulsion & Plasma Dynamics Laboratory at Princeton Electric Propulsion & Plasma Dynamics Laboratory at Princeton

University is involved in the fields of Electric and Advanced University is involved in the fields of Electric and Advanced propulsion systems, plasma dynamics, astronautics, and space propulsion systems, plasma dynamics, astronautics, and space plasma physics plasma physics

Uses system similar to Ion Drive called Lorentz Force Accelerator Uses system similar to Ion Drive called Lorentz Force Accelerator Chemical reaction between Lithium and Hydrogen to create thrust Chemical reaction between Lithium and Hydrogen to create thrust

(Lithium Hydroxide/Hydrogen/heat) (Lithium Hydroxide/Hydrogen/heat) We can use this as Hydro-Carbon like thrust as well as create ions We can use this as Hydro-Carbon like thrust as well as create ions

for the ion drive technology.for the ion drive technology.

Vehicle DesignsVehicle DesignsDesign #1 (X-33 Style)Design #1 (X-33 Style)

• Our first design is a simple, wide, Our first design is a simple, wide, and aerodynamic craft that would and aerodynamic craft that would contain the ION Drive system at contain the ION Drive system at the rear of the craft. On top of the the rear of the craft. On top of the craft would be multiple solar craft would be multiple solar panels that can be used to power panels that can be used to power the ion chamber.the ion chamber.

• This design would allow for us to This design would allow for us to carry a large amount of materials carry a large amount of materials and payload as well as a higher and payload as well as a higher number of people. This number of people. This spacecraft is aerodynamic as to spacecraft is aerodynamic as to be able to fly in the Earth’s be able to fly in the Earth’s atmosphere at the speed of a atmosphere at the speed of a regular commercial aircraft regular commercial aircraft (approx 500-600 MPH)(approx 500-600 MPH)

Vehicle Designs Vehicle Designs (cont)(cont)

Design #2 (X-43 Style)Design #2 (X-43 Style)

• Our second design is a more Our second design is a more streamlined spacecraft that is streamlined spacecraft that is capable of traveling at supersonic capable of traveling at supersonic speeds in the Earth’s atmosphere speeds in the Earth’s atmosphere making this design more well making this design more well rounded. The ION Drive system rounded. The ION Drive system would be located at the bottom of the would be located at the bottom of the ship and the Hydrocarbon rockets (2 ship and the Hydrocarbon rockets (2 of them) would be located on either of them) would be located on either side of the ION Drive system. Solar side of the ION Drive system. Solar panels would again be located on the panels would again be located on the top of the craft.top of the craft.

• This design allows for more speed This design allows for more speed on Earth and makes it easier to on Earth and makes it easier to break through the atmosphere. break through the atmosphere. However, there would be less space However, there would be less space for payload on this craft.for payload on this craft.

Tile SystemTile System The shuttle’s tile system is an advancement on the original shell The shuttle’s tile system is an advancement on the original shell

design. When the craft would re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere, the design. When the craft would re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere, the entire shell would have to be removed and replaced.entire shell would have to be removed and replaced.

The tiles however are falling off because of improper gluing The tiles however are falling off because of improper gluing techniques and weak/melted adhesive. We plan on fixing the glue techniques and weak/melted adhesive. We plan on fixing the glue by creating a new form of the adhesive that can withstand higher by creating a new form of the adhesive that can withstand higher temperatures as well as cooling the entire tile system.temperatures as well as cooling the entire tile system.

Cooling SystemCooling System We would like to run liquid nitrogen around the shell of the shuttle We would like to run liquid nitrogen around the shell of the shuttle

(just beneath the tiles). The liquid nitrogen would be held in a (just beneath the tiles). The liquid nitrogen would be held in a container inside of the shuttle and upon launch and re-entry, the container inside of the shuttle and upon launch and re-entry, the nitrogen would be released through porous into its system so to cool nitrogen would be released through porous into its system so to cool down the temperature of the tiles as well as the adhesive.down the temperature of the tiles as well as the adhesive.

This has already been tried beforeThis has already been tried before

however we feel that we can furtherhowever we feel that we can further

advance this technique and cool downadvance this technique and cool down

the tiles and adhesive on the shuttle.the tiles and adhesive on the shuttle.

Our Plans for 2006-2007Our Plans for 2006-2007

1.1. Advance the ION Drive SystemAdvance the ION Drive System

2.2. Create a new tile system for the shuttleCreate a new tile system for the shuttle

3.3. Find a method of cooling the tile system Find a method of cooling the tile system for the shuttlefor the shuttle

4.4. Construct a model of the hybrid designConstruct a model of the hybrid design

5.5. Enter our design into different Enter our design into different competitions (held in Langley, VA)competitions (held in Langley, VA)

Special ThanksSpecial Thanks

Dr. Siva ThangamDr. Siva Thangam

Prof. Joseph MilesProf. Joseph Miles

Dr. Frank ScalzoDr. Frank Scalzo

Dr. Elizabeth RudolphDr. Elizabeth Rudolph

Stevens Institute of TechnologyStevens Institute of Technology

NYCRINYCRI

NASANASA

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