2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Demonstration of an innovative small airbreathing electric-propulsion-system using the kinetic energy of the supersonic atmosphere
| Project/Area Number |
19K23486
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
0301:Mechanics of materials, production engineering, design engineering, fluid engineering, thermal engineering, mechanical dynamics, robotics, aerospace engineering, marine and maritime engineering, and related fields
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| Research Institution | Nagoya University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
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| Keywords | 電気推進機 / 大気吸い込み式 / 超低軌道 / 大気プラズマ |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Recent years, the increase in space debris has become a big problem. Objects on the ultra-low earth orbit at an altitude of about 200 km do not become space debris due to the resistance of the rarefied atmosphere. Despite a thruster is required to maintain this orbit, if electric-propulsion system using the breathed atmosphere as a propellant can be realized, it is possible to maintain this orbit as long as the satellite does not breakdown. In this study, we proposed a new air-breathing electric propulsion system with new features. This thruster was manufactured, and tested with a rarefied airflow. However, the airflow used here has not sufficiently simulate the environment of the ultra-low earth orbit, and further research is required to realize it.
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| Free Research Field |
プラズマ推進
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
本研究で提案する大気吸い込み式電気推進機が実現し，超低軌道の利用が可能となれば，宇宙ゴミ増加の問題が解決するのみならず，デブリ化の心配がなくなることにより，宇宙産業が更に活発になる可能性がある．本研究では実際に希薄空気流に対しての作動が確認できたが，静止希薄空気に対して電気推進機を作動させた例も世界で数例しかなく，実現に向けた大きな一歩であると考えている．
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