Spacecraft Propulsion: ElectroThermal Engine Systems

[@professordanfurmanek3732]

University astronomy professor, outstanding video! Clearly shows strengths and weaknesses within this emerging New Field!!

[@terranspaceacademy]

Thank you Sir. What is your opinion on these approaches? Do you have a favorite?

[@terranspaceacademy]

@@NwoDispatcher We love that one too :-) I hope they can get it down. They are so hard to model.

[@Cement_Smoothie]

Hi! Awesome video as always! I work at a company called Enpulsion, and we developed and created a FEEP engine with Indium as propellant. No moving parts, no valves, just electricity. If you'd like to know more, for a future video for example, I'd love to discuss it with you and hear your thoughts.

[@terranspaceacademy]

I would love to do a lesson on FEEP technology. Please reach out at [e-mail]

[@davidhenry5128]

Minor point, the vernier part of vernier caliper refers to the vernier scale ( on the side of the caliper not shown). Another great video, I found it very informative and well made

[@terranspaceacademy]

Thank you very much.

[@chadjensenster]

Great video. I have thought about this topic a bit. Thanks for covering it.

[@terranspaceacademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tylerhusky4065]

Great explanation on a large number of AeroSpace Propulsion Methods, I hope to see some of the newer emerging technologies that have been proven in lab only I’ll admit, but are still incredibly cool nonetheless! Keep up the great work on the videos, we all thank you for them!

[@terranspaceacademy]

Thank you so much Tyler! I think electrothermal has a lot of potential too!

[@saptarshibiswas3487]

FYI: This technology is done by The Pennsylvania State University since 1980s. Momentus, signed a contract with us much later. I remember showing the concepts to their former CEO and CTO, when they were about to start their startup in this field. The video is cool though :)

[@terranspaceacademy]

Thank you very much :-). The electrothermal or the VASIMR? A lot of great ideas or put on paper in the 50s 60s and 70s but never made it to production. It is worthwhile to look back at some of those brilliant ideas from time to time.

[@saptarshibiswas3487]

@@terranspaceacademy Microwave Electrothermal Thruster

[@terranspaceacademy]

@@saptarshibiswas3487 Great potential there... especially with magnetic containment and heating to plasma... hardly any limits...

[@taylorwestmore4664]

The patents of Thomas Townsend Brown for an "Electro-kinetic generator" is a type of electro-thermal generator, which is an ionized fuel jet. A high voltage, negatively charged needle in the fuel injector accelerates electrons through the jet nozzle to millions of volts by recycling that potential in a series of collector electrodes which carries the charges through a circuit that rectifies it, and charges the needle to even higher voltages. This causes gain in the process of electro-thermal power conversion until it reaches peak efficiency. The second patent Thomas Brown issued was for an electro-kinetic propulsion apparatus for using excess power in the first patent to positively charge the leading edge of the rocket or aircraft, and therefore accelerate air molecules and positive charges in the air from the front of the craft to the negative exhaust jet.

[@terranspaceacademy]

I'll have to read up on that, thank you.

[@georgethompson1460]

Isn't the benefit of VASIMR it's afterburner or 'gearing' system that allows you to vary thrust? Didn't hear you mention that.

[@terranspaceacademy]

It is indeed a great benefit. To get to higher speeds quickly in a journey is very important, than and efficient burn until flip and aerobraking.

[@royssche]

Hi! from Zerg Space Academy

[@terranspaceacademy]

Hello there!

[@jamesh318]

Minor point at 2:21 that’s not a fine adjustment, that’s a locking screw. Using calipers is a good skill to learn, try it sometime.

[@terranspaceacademy]

I really should. The sad thing is that we either design or build but rarely both. The skill sets are quite different.

[@octaviacoquus8857]

This channel is great! How do you have so few views?

[@terranspaceacademy]

Thank you! t's hard to get attention when you start. This is a new platform for us. The potential to teach thousands instead of hundreds drove us to try it.

[@jtasakorn]

Informative! Maybe VASIMR could use abundant water (steam) as propellant. But as you say, it's complicated, why not go nuclear thermal. :D

[@terranspaceacademy]

I agree... Watch the one called Pulsed Nuclear Thermal. I think it is the most powerful idea that could be built today.

[@juan.2438]

VASIMR engine is almost ready, 3 years left

[@terranspaceacademy]

Can't wait Juan! Just need a good power source!

[@miriyalaharitha6221]

I want information about photon propulsion technology and using only high voltage of electricity and magnetic field for thrust

[@terranspaceacademy]

That's called an LED my friend! Just size one up! Seriously the efficiency of a laser is too low. About 20%. The same for an LED. Look at MASERs. Closer to 90%.

[@miriyalaharitha6221]

@@terranspaceacademy Can we use photon propulsion technology to make an aeroplane to fly? And are there any man made aircrafts which have trans medium properties?

[@miriyalaharitha6221]

@@terranspaceacademy Can you give me information about all other types of propulsion system which use electricity and nuclear reactor technology to power an aeroplane to a starship

[@terranspaceacademy]

@@miriyalaharitha6221 Trans medium properties?

[@miriyalaharitha6221]

@@terranspaceacademy Yes

[@bkstyles5769]

sir, can you explain, how TransAstra, OMNIVORE SOLAR THERMAL ROCKET works? thankyou

[@terranspaceacademy]

Solar thermal rockets can best be thought of like a magnifying glass from childhood. They focus the sun's energy into a point of extreme heat and use that for power. They can be a very effective way to get around if you have a good propellant that can double as a coolant like water, ammonia, or cryogenic methane or hydrogen.

[@vinniepeterss]

​@@terranspaceacademy what about your thoughts on solar sail powered by laser?

[@ryandugal]

Yes. Love this.

[@terranspaceacademy]

Thank you!

[@creightonfreeman8059]

Isn't the exhaust velocity much lower in a thermo or pulsed thermo nuclear rocket than with a plasma or ion drive? I thought thermo nuclear could only get us to about 2% of light speed whereas ion or plasma was more like 20%....?

[@terranspaceacademy]

The pulsed nuclear thermal or pulsed neutron thermal is a brand new idea put forward just a couple years ago. The pulsed nuclear rocket engine, like most fission rocket engines including the nuclear lightbulb, are limited by engine component heating to about 1000 seconds of specific impulse. Because the pulsed neutron rocket heats the propellant more than the engine components it has the potential for much greater specific impulse. Equal to that of ion drives with many orders of magnitude more thrust according to the researchers in Catalonia. It is a truly revolutionary idea...

[@linyenchin6773]

That opening piano stuff 💖🎶💖🎶💖🎶

[@terranspaceacademy]

Thank you! "Slowly Until We Get There" by Joey Pecoraro

[@georgethompson1460]

Wouldn't anything that uses ions as propellant be an ion drive? Generally I though that was the criteria.

[@terranspaceacademy]

I did too but for a true ion drive the ions must be expelled by electromagnetic fields. Since a magnetic bottle holds the ions to be heated by radio waves then expelled by thermal energy the VASIMR is technically a thermal rocket.

[@ErickSpace369]

Great !

[@terranspaceacademy]

Thank you!

[@dish_care]

Is honey bee robotic on Rosseta?

[@terranspaceacademy]

That's a ESA custom built robot...very similar though.

[@petercampbell4535]

Electrical Lightening Thrust Rocket Propullsions Vehcles

[@terranspaceacademy]

Very close to it…

[@douglashagan65]

Electro hydrothermal systems will water turbines the crate electricity water hydro electrical propulsion systems through turbines face turbines large they'll be creating tremendous amounts of electrical power enabling us to travel through space cost effectively water turns turbines electricity similar to our dams

[@terranspaceacademy]

Solar thermal? That does have potential.

[@YouTubeH8sMe]

pulse it, not constant thrust.

[@terranspaceacademy]

They can be ran continuously but at a much lower Isp