Skip to main content
3 of 3
edited tags
uhoh
  • 151k
  • 56
  • 505
  • 1.6k

What are the forces affecting superconducting MRI-magnet on low-earth orbit and could you accelerate a satellite with these forces?

In superconducting magnetic levitation the magnet levitates on top of the superconducting material (Meisner effect). In space, the electric current of the solar wind should create a magnetic field because of Faraday's Law of induction (positive particles accelerating against gravity to move away from Sun).

Suppose we pack an MRI machine superconducting magnet on a StarShip and turn it on after it has been released into circular orbit around Earth with some thruster control of the orientation of the craft and remote control of the magnet's orientation itself. How does the interaction of the superconducting magnet with the magnetic field in space affect the orbit of the craft? Is there a simulation tool to test this / calculate the amount of force?

Suppoce we pack 6 magnets and orient them as the planes of cube with gimbaled attachement. Would this allow us to generate thrust and rotational control by pushing against the magnetic field in space?

Anybody has a Jupyter Notebook about relevant physics or recommendations about a (free) simulation tool?