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An improved method of gravicraft propulsion.

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An improved method of gravicraft propulsion. / Gratus, Jonathan; Tucker, Robin.
In: Acta Astronautica, Vol. 53, No. 3, 08.2003, p. 161-172.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Gratus, J & Tucker, R 2003, 'An improved method of gravicraft propulsion.', Acta Astronautica, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 161-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0094-5765(02)00202-3

APA

Gratus, J., & Tucker, R. (2003). An improved method of gravicraft propulsion. Acta Astronautica, 53(3), 161-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0094-5765(02)00202-3

Vancouver

Gratus J, Tucker R. An improved method of gravicraft propulsion. Acta Astronautica. 2003 Aug;53(3):161-172. doi: 10.1016/S0094-5765(02)00202-3

Author

Gratus, Jonathan ; Tucker, Robin. / An improved method of gravicraft propulsion. In: Acta Astronautica. 2003 ; Vol. 53, No. 3. pp. 161-172.

Bibtex

@article{f0fa63ce10b643b5a92b875dfe98ecac,
title = "An improved method of gravicraft propulsion.",
abstract = "There is an interaction between gravitational tidal forces and the instantaneous moment of inertia of any massive extended body. A mechanism that changes the altitude of a spacecraft orbiting a central mass by periodically changing its instantaneous moment of inertia tensor is discussed. This can be achieved most simply by connecting two bodies with a tether of adjustable length and does not rely on any chemical propellant. By using a series of reasonable approximations, a formula for the rate of change of height is given in terms of accessible data. This formula predicts that by suitably varying the length of a 50 km connecting tether a connected system can rise at about 300 m an hour in low earth orbit.",
author = "Jonathan Gratus and Robin Tucker",
year = "2003",
month = aug,
doi = "10.1016/S0094-5765(02)00202-3",
language = "English",
volume = "53",
pages = "161--172",
journal = "Acta Astronautica",
issn = "0094-5765",
publisher = "Elsevier Limited",
number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - An improved method of gravicraft propulsion.

AU - Gratus, Jonathan

AU - Tucker, Robin

PY - 2003/8

Y1 - 2003/8

N2 - There is an interaction between gravitational tidal forces and the instantaneous moment of inertia of any massive extended body. A mechanism that changes the altitude of a spacecraft orbiting a central mass by periodically changing its instantaneous moment of inertia tensor is discussed. This can be achieved most simply by connecting two bodies with a tether of adjustable length and does not rely on any chemical propellant. By using a series of reasonable approximations, a formula for the rate of change of height is given in terms of accessible data. This formula predicts that by suitably varying the length of a 50 km connecting tether a connected system can rise at about 300 m an hour in low earth orbit.

AB - There is an interaction between gravitational tidal forces and the instantaneous moment of inertia of any massive extended body. A mechanism that changes the altitude of a spacecraft orbiting a central mass by periodically changing its instantaneous moment of inertia tensor is discussed. This can be achieved most simply by connecting two bodies with a tether of adjustable length and does not rely on any chemical propellant. By using a series of reasonable approximations, a formula for the rate of change of height is given in terms of accessible data. This formula predicts that by suitably varying the length of a 50 km connecting tether a connected system can rise at about 300 m an hour in low earth orbit.

U2 - 10.1016/S0094-5765(02)00202-3

DO - 10.1016/S0094-5765(02)00202-3

M3 - Journal article

VL - 53

SP - 161

EP - 172

JO - Acta Astronautica

JF - Acta Astronautica

SN - 0094-5765

IS - 3

ER -