1. Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma
Propulsion (M2P2)
• R. M. Winglee, G. K. Parks, M. McCarthy
Geophysics Program, Univ. of Washington
• J. Slough, T. Ziemba
Aeronautics and Astronautics, Uni. Of Washington
• J. Burch
Southwest Research Institute
• A. Goodson
Boeing Corporation
NIAC March 25, 1999

2. Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma
Propulsion (M2P2)
• Facilitate High Speed Spacecraft
For the Exploration of the Solar System and Beyond
• Enabling Technology Exists Today
to attain 50-80 km/s in 3 month accel. period
• Immediate Return to NASA Missions
- Interstellar Probe Precusor
race Voyager 1 out of the Solar System
- Geostorm - Solar Wind Monitoring
- Sun Synchronous Orbiter
- Mercury Orbiter

3. Standoff Distance : 10 m Inner Radius
1.E+05
1.E+04
1.E+03
1.E+02
1.E+01
1.E+03 1.E+04 1.E+05 1.E+06 1.E+07
Bcoil (nT)
Standoff Distance (m)
0 tilt
45 tilt
extrapolation
Simple Dipole
105
104
103
102
101
103 104 105 106 107
Bcoil (nT)
Standoff Distance (m)
(Solar Wind - 500 km/s @ 6 particles/cc)

4. 10
1
.1
.01
Electrothermal
Arcjet
Resistojet
MPD
Ion
M2P2
100 1,000 10,000 100,000
Specific Impulse (sec)
Thrust (N)

5. Stainless Enclosure for
Helicon Source
Helicon Source Coil
Quartz Tube
(5 cm OD)
Potting
Material
Gas Feed Thru
Copper Housing Coil
Connections
Magnetic Coil
(25 cm OD)
Quartz End Plug
M2P2 Lab. Prototype

6. 1.E+03
103
102
1.E+02
101
1.E+01
1.E+00
100
1.E-01
1.E-02
1.E-04 1.E-0F3orce f1ro.Em- 0P2lasma1 S.Eo-u0r1ce (m1N.)E+00 1.E+01
Force exerted by Solar Wind (mN)
0 tilt - Radial
45 tilt - Radial
45 tilt - Azimuth
Extrapolate - Radial
Extrapolate - Azimuth
10-4 10-3 10-2 10-1 100 101
Force from Plasma Source (mN)
10-1
10-2
Force Exerted by Solar Wind (mN)
0.6 N per 100 kg 50 km/s in 3 months
M2P2 : 1 mN Expended : 400 mN For Acceleration

7. M2P2 Near Future
Solar Sails
15- 30 km (e.g Geostorm)
40 - 70 m
Momentum Flux : 1 nN/m2 4.7 uN/m2
Total Force : 0.6 -3 N 0.025 - 0.075 N
Weigh : 20 - 40 kg 100 kg
Power : 3 kW 0 W
Method : Electromagnetic Mechanical

8. Interstellar
Wind
Heliopause : End of the Plasma
Solar System
Termination
Shock:
Subsonic
Solar Wind
Solar Wind
Voyager 1:
Launched 1978

9. Formation of a Magnetic Wall
Supersonic Solar Wind
(400 - 1000 km/s)
Streamlines
&
Contours of
density
Magnetic Wall
•15 - 30 km radius
•Electromagnetic-
Plasma Interaction
•Not Mechanical
•Constant Force Surface

10. Creating A Mini-Magnetosphere
Magnetic Field + Plasma Injection = Strong Solar Wind
Spacecraft
Magnetic
Field
Solar Wind
IMF Bow Shock
Coupling
Plasma
Injection
Dipole : B ~ R
-3
Current Sheet : B ~ R -1

11. Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion
Helicon
Plasma
Sources
Propellant
Storage
Magnetic
Coil
• STRONG COUPLING through
Plasma Injection + Magnetic Field
to the Solar Wind (400 - 1000 km/s)
Azimuthal : Inner Solar System
Radial : Outer Solar System
• Constant Force is attained
irrespective of position in the
Solar System
• Enabling Technology Exists

12. Status of Present Work
-Completed computer simulations showing feasibility
-Lab. Prototype fully designed and being constructed
Near-Future
-Demonstrate magnetic wall inflation
Small Tank (factor of 2)
Large Tank (factor of 10)
-Specify spacecraft mission for proof of principle
goal of 50-80 km/s in 3 months
-Facilitate exploration of outer solar system
Long Term
- Constant power supply for 1 yr allow 200-320 km/s
-Utilization of Dusty Plasma would allow propulsion
by Solar Photons without the need for mechanical struts
with unprecedented area to attain 10,000 km/s