ELECTRODYNAMIC

TETHER

Presented by:-

P.VANDANA KRISHNA
CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Principle
 Working
 Stabilization of electrodynamic tethers
 EDT application
 Advantages
 Future scope
 Conclusion
INTRODUCTION

 Satellites have a major part to play in the present

communication system.
 There are over eight thousand satellites and other
large objects in orbit around the Earth, and there are
countless smaller pieces of debris generated by
spacecraft explosions between satellites.
 One method of removing a waste satellite from orbit
would be to carry extra propellant so that the satellite
can bring itself down out of orbit.
INTRODUCTION
 An ELECTRODYNAMIC tether provides a
simple and reliable alternative to the
conventional rocket thrusters.
 EDTs are basically made of aluminium alloy.

 When direct current is sent through it, it

exerts a force and the tether accelerates the
spacecraft.
 By reversing the direction of current in it, the
same tether can be used to de-orbit old
satellites.
ELECTRO DYNAMIC TETHER
PRINCIPLE
 The basic principle of
an electrodynamic
tether is Lorentz
force.
 It is the force that a
magnetic field exerts
on a current carrying
wire in a direction
perpendicular to both
the direction of
current flow and
magnetic field .
PRINCIPLE

 For a charged particle

moving with velocity
V in a magnetic field
B the resultant is in
the direction of the
force F – Fleming’s
left hand rule.
WORKING
 An EDT can be used either to accelerate or
brake an orbiting spacecraft.
 When direct current is passed through the
tether, it exerts a force against the magnetic
field and the tether accelerates the
spacecraft.
 The gravity gradient field will tend to orient
the tether in a vertical position.
WORKING
 In an EDT drag system such as the
terminator Tether, the tether can be used to
reduce the orbit of the spacecraft.
 The electrons are collected at one end of the
tether and expelled at the other end.
 This current interacts with the earth’s
magnetic field and causes a force which
opposes tether.
 This decreases the orbit of the tether.
 WORKING

 In an electro dynamic propulsion system, the

tether can be used to boost the orbit of the
spacecraft.

 If a power is added to the tether system and

current is driven in the opposite direction.

 Then the tether can push against the earth’s

magnetic field to raise the spacecraft’s orbit.
 WORKING

 The lorentz force acts on the electrons in

tether.
 A hallow cathode causes the tube to heatup
and produce xenon gas.
 Electrons Electrons interact with heat gas to
create a plasma.
 Due to this effect electrons are discharged
rapidly.
WORKING

 Earth’s magnetic
field exerts a drag
force on the current
carrying tether.

 This leads to the

lowering of the orbit.
EDT PROPULSION
TETHER STABILIZATION
 Electrodynmic tethers are inherently unstable.
 The electrodynamic forces also vary and so a
pendulum motion is developed.
 Further this motion turns in to complex
librations in both the in-plane and out-of-plane
direction.
 The “Tether configuration” feedback algorithm
calculates a gain factor based upon the network
that the electrodynamic forces will perform on
the tether dynamics.
TETHER STABILIZATION
 The second algorithm requires only periodic
measurements of the acceleration of the
tether end mass called “End mass
acceleration” feedback method.

 These enable EDTs to provide long term

propellant less propulsion while maintaining
tether stability and efficiency.
EDT APPLICATIONS
 Propellant less
propulsion for LEO
spacecraft.
 The µPET Propulsion
System.
 The Terminator Tether
Satellite de-orbit
System.
 Electrodynamic re-boost
of the International
Space Station.
 Power Generation in
Low Earth Orbit.
 Space junk cleanup.
µPET
tether
EDT APPLICATIONS

Terminator tether LEO spacecraft

APPLICATIONS

ELECTRODYNAMICS
Electrodynamic power generation Electrodynamic thrust generation
Radiation belt remediation
Space station
Microgravity laboratory Shuttle de-orbit from space station
Tethered space transfer vehicle Altitude stabilization and control
launch
Internal forces for orbital Satellite boost from orbiter
modification
Tether assisted transport system Tether re-boosting of decaying
satellites
ADVANTAGES
 The major advantage of tethers compared to
other propulsion systems is it does not require
any propellant.
 Reduces the de-orbit times.
 High efficiency and good adaptability to varying
plasma conditions.
 Boosting tethers of moderate length. (5-20 km)
 Substantially reduce the weight of the spacecraft.
 A cost effective method of re-boosting spacecraft.
 It is reusable .

Advantages
FUTURE SCOPE
 Satellite Tugboat:
Another idea is for the ED tether to be attached
to an unmanned space tugboat that would ferry
satellites to higher orbits.
 Exploring the outer planets:
The most exotic use if ED tether technology
would be to propel and power spacecraft
exploring the outer planets.
CONCLUSION
 As electrodynamic tethers can provide long term
propellant- less propulsion capability for orbital
maneuvering and station keeping of small
satellites in low earth orbit, these are preferable
compared with the existing rocket propulsion
system.
 Also EDTs may provide an economical means of
electrical power in orbit.
 Hence electro dynamic tethers play a key role for
satellite communication system.
Thank you