Super Magdrive Rocket Thrusters Operate Using Heavy Metal

The most prevalent metal known to humanity is iron. It can be found everywhere, not just on Earth but also in space. Astro engineers have recently discovered how to utilize iron—and nearly any metal, for that matter—as plasma rocket fuel.

It’s well-established that certain metals can ignite explosively. Lithium reacts with water and burns very fiercely, while magnesium and titanium are commonly used in fireworks due to their bright flames and sparks. Additionally, aluminum, which constitutes about 8% of the metals in the Earth’s crust, is already employed in solid rocket propellants.

But iron? Although iron oxide is a crucial component of thermite, it isn’t typically regarded as a fuel source.

Innovative Fuel Source for Spacecraft

Astronautical engineers at Magdrive have created a distinctive plasma thruster designed for space that can utilize nearly any type of metal as its fuel. This advancement means that spacecraft would no longer need to return to Earth for refueling; instead, they could harvest metal from comets, asteroids, moons, or any other objects floating in the vastness of space to serve as fuel.

They refer to it as the Super Magdrive.

Energy Conversion and Thrust Generation in the Super Magdrive

The process begins with solar panels that gather and store energy in capacitors. This stored energy is then released at an extremely high rate—over 1,000 volts—to ionize the metal. This process generates a high-density, high-temperature stream of plasma “bullets” within a confined space, which can be accelerated and directed using magnetic fields to produce thrust.

Conventional chemical rockets would still be necessary to launch the vehicle into space, as plasma rockets lack the thrust required to lift off the ground and exit Earth’s atmosphere. However, once in the vacuum of space, plasma thrusters can easily propel and maneuver spacecraft.

The Super Magdrive is reported to produce thrust “an order of magnitude higher than similarly sized electric propulsion systems,” typically indicating ten times more power. Meanwhile, Howe Industries is working on a Pulsed Plasma Rocket engine design that aims for 100,000 N (73,756 lbf) of thrust and a specific impulse of 5,000. However, thrust figures for the Super Magdrive have not been released yet.

Researchers from the University of Southampton have been collaborating with the UK-based Magdrive to validate the thrust capabilities of the plasma propulsion system.

Fuel Limitations and the Advantages of New Thrusters

“Spacecraft have limited fuel supplies due to the enormous cost and energy required to launch them into space,” explained lead scientist Dr. Minkwan Kim from the University of Southampton. “These new thrusters can be powered by any combustible metal, such as iron, aluminum, or copper. Once equipped, spacecraft could land on a comet or moon rich in these minerals, harvest what they need, and then take off with a full tank.”

Currently, Magdrive is concentrating on satellites. With Super Magdrive technology, the company believes it can significantly reduce fuel costs and lighter payloads to ensure satellites remain safe during their orbital operations by utilizing easily obtainable and abundant fuel: metal.

Dr. Kim nearly quoted Bradbury, stating, “The system could help us explore new planets, seek out new life, and venture where no human has gone before—enabling endless discovery.”

In January 2023, “Operation Get it Up” marked the launch of the first Super Magdrive on the SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-6 mission. Initial reports confirmed a successful deployment, but no additional performance updates have been released. However, Magdrive plans to launch a plasma thruster that is five times more powerful than the previous one for testing in June 2025, under the name “So Much for Subtlety.”

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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