Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP)

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Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP)

Westerhoff, John

An advanced concept in in-space transportation currently being studied is the Momentum-Exchange/Electrodynamic Reboost Tether System (MXER). The MXER system is a permanently orbiting platform designed to boost payloads from low earth orbit (LEO). Unlike conventional rockets that use propellants, MXER acts as a large momentum wheel, imparting a Av to a payload at the expense of its own orbital energy. After throwing a payload, the system reboosts itself using an electrodynamic tether to push against Earth s magnetic field and brings itself back up to an operational orbit to prepare for the next payload. The ability to reboost itself allows for continued reuse of the system without the expenditure of propellants. Considering the cost of lifting propellant from the ground to LEO to do the same Av boost at $10000 per pound, the system cuts the launch cost of the payload dramatically, and subsequently, the MXER system pays for itself after a small number of missions. As such, this technology is a valuable addition to NASA s mission for in-space transportation.