New method tests magnet-powered braking for safer, more reusable spacecraft reentry
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a new system to test magnetohydrodynamic aerobraking for spacecraft reentering the atmosphere. Their platform generates intense magnetic fields with a powerful electromagnet as a miniature vessel is hit with a shock wave traveling at over seven kilometers per second (4.3 miles per second). The magnets reached far higher fields than…
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a novel system to evaluate magnetohydrodynamic aerobraking for spacecraft reentry. This method involves generating intense magnetic fields with a powerful electromagnet as a miniature spacecraft is exposed to a shock wave traveling at over seven kilometers per second.
Previous attempts have used permanent magnets, which have limitations in terms of field strength and shape. The new system, led by Associate Professor Kohei Shimamura, uses a customizable set of coils and a pulse-forming network to generate powerful magnetic pulses, simulating the intense conditions experienced during reentry. By synchronizing the magnetic field with the shock wave duration, the team achieved field strengths up to 1.58 tesla, significantly higher than conventional neodymium magnets.
This breakthrough allows for systematic testing of various magnetic field strengths and shapes, paving the way for real-world experiments and the development of reusable spacecraft.
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