• Corpus ID: 55324095

MAGNETIC SAILS AND INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL

@article{Andrews1990MAGNETICSA,
  title={MAGNETIC SAILS AND INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL},
  author={Dana G. Andrews and Robert M. Zubrin},
  journal={Journal of the British Interplanetary Society},
  year={1990},
  volume={43},
  pages={265-272}
}

• D. Andrews, R. Zubrin
• Published 1990
• Physics
• Journal of the British Interplanetary Society

A new concept, the magnetic sail, or "Magsail", is proposed which propels spacecraft by using the magnetic field generated by a loop of superconducting cable to deflect interplanetary or interstellar plasmas winds. A description is given of the computer code used to model the performance of such a device and results of a series of investigations are presented. It is found that a Magsail sailing on the solar wind at a radius of one astronautical unit (A.U.) can attain accelerations on the order of 0.01 m/s 2 , much greater than that available from a conventional solar lightsail. When used as a brake for an interstellar spacecraft, the Magsail can reduce spacecraft velocity by a factor of e every five years. A systems performance code was used to analyze the utility of the Magsail when used in conjunction with either fusion rocket or laser lightsail accelerated interstellar spacecraft. It is found that the Magsail can reduce flight times by forty to fifty years and propellant requirements by thirty percent for fusion rocket propelled ten lightyear missions. The Magsail also provides an efficient method for decelerating laser lightsail propelled missions that are otherwise simply impossible.