Acceleration without fuel: superconducting thruster uses Earth's magnetic field
9 hours ago
- #sustainable propulsion
- #superconducting magnets
- #space technology
- Zenno Astronautics has successfully tested its Supertorquer, a superconducting magnetic thruster that interacts with Earth's magnetic field for attitude control without fuel.
- The thruster uses superconducting magnets cooled to -200°C via insulation and heat pumps, converting solar energy into magnetic force for acceleration and trajectory changes.
- Future applications include enabling spacecraft docking, proximity operations, and radiation shielding for missions to the Moon and Mars, promoting sustainable space industry growth.