TY - GEN
T1 - Exploration of the Jupiter plasma torus with a self-powered electrodynamic tether
AU - Curreli, Davide
AU - Lorenzini, Enrico C.
AU - Bombardelli, Claudio
AU - Sanjurjo-Rivo, Manuel
AU - Lucas, Fernando R.
AU - Peláez, Jesus
AU - Scheeres, Daniel J.
AU - Lara, Martin
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The dynamics and power generation of an electrodynamic tether (EDT) placed in the three body system formed by Jupiter, Io and the space craft are analyzed. In the region surrounding Io's orbital path, a region of increased electrondensity called the plasma torus offers a suitable location to operate an EDT. The electrodynamic interaction between the conducting cable of the EDT and the strong magnetic field of the planet leads to non-negligible electrodynamic force, that perturbs the natural three body motion. New equilibrium positions are found in the synodic frame, which coincide with the classical triangular Lagrangian points only when the electrodynamic force vanishes. The locations of equilibrium positions are computed as a function of tether length, width and space craft mass. While in this equilibrium position, the tethered system can generate kilo watts of electrical power with out deorbiting the system, the energy coming from to the super-rotating plasma sphere of Jupiter. The motion around the new equilibrium positions is evaluated, for both small linear motion con fined to a neighborhood of the equilibrium point, and for large amplitude non-linear moions. As an application of this study, a mission profile capable to explore the whole plasma torus is presented. This plasma torus explorer can perform an inter nal "scan" of the torus itself while generating electrical power useful for loads on board the space craft.
AB - The dynamics and power generation of an electrodynamic tether (EDT) placed in the three body system formed by Jupiter, Io and the space craft are analyzed. In the region surrounding Io's orbital path, a region of increased electrondensity called the plasma torus offers a suitable location to operate an EDT. The electrodynamic interaction between the conducting cable of the EDT and the strong magnetic field of the planet leads to non-negligible electrodynamic force, that perturbs the natural three body motion. New equilibrium positions are found in the synodic frame, which coincide with the classical triangular Lagrangian points only when the electrodynamic force vanishes. The locations of equilibrium positions are computed as a function of tether length, width and space craft mass. While in this equilibrium position, the tethered system can generate kilo watts of electrical power with out deorbiting the system, the energy coming from to the super-rotating plasma sphere of Jupiter. The motion around the new equilibrium positions is evaluated, for both small linear motion con fined to a neighborhood of the equilibrium point, and for large amplitude non-linear moions. As an application of this study, a mission profile capable to explore the whole plasma torus is presented. This plasma torus explorer can perform an inter nal "scan" of the torus itself while generating electrical power useful for loads on board the space craft.
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M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:80052663594
SN - 9780877035541
T3 - Advances in the Astronautical Sciences
SP - 2121
EP - 2140
BT - Spaceflight Mechanics 2009 - Advances in the Astronautical Sciences
T2 - 19th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting
Y2 - 8 February 2009 through 12 February 2009
ER -