Asymmetrical Capacitors for Propulsion

TITLE AND SUBTITLE:
Asymmetrical Capacitors for Propulsion

AUTHOR(S):
Francis X. Canning, Cory Melcher, and Edwin Winet

REPORT DATE:
October 2004

FUNDING NUMBERS:
WBS-22-62-949-10-01
NAS3-00124

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
Institute for Scientific Research, Inc.
1000 Technology Drive, Suite 1110
Fairmont, West Virginia 26554

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER:
E-14772

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, DC 20546-0001

REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED:
Final Contractor Report

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER:
NASA CR-2004-213312

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES:
Project Manager, Marc G. Millis, Turbomachinery and Propulsion Systems Division, NASA Glenn Research Center, organization code 5870, 216-977-7535.

ABSTRACT:
Asymmetrical Capacitor Thrusters have been proposed as a source of propulsion. For over eighty years, it has been known that a thrust results when a high voltage is placed across an asymmetrical capacitor, when that voltage causes a leakage current to flow. However, there is surprisingly little experimental or theoretical data explaining this effect. This paper reports on the results of tests of several Asymmetrical Capacitor Thrusters (ACTs). The thrust they produce has been measured for various voltages, polarities, and ground configurations and their radiation in the VHF range has been recorded. These tests were performed at atmospheric pressure and at various reduced pressures. A simple model for the thrust was developed. The model assumed the thrust was due to electrostatic forces on the leakage current flowing across the capacitor. It was further assumed that this current involves charged ions which undergo multiple collisions with air. These collisions transfer momentum. All of the measured data was consistent with this model. Many configurations were tested, and the results suggest general design principles for ACTs to be used for a variety of purposes.

SUBJECT TERMS:
Interstellar travel; Spacecraft propulsion; Physics; Gravitation; Antigravity

NUMBER OF PAGES:
22

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2004/CR-2004-213312.pdf ( 1,017 KB )
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