Could a complex system of reaction wheels be used to propel a spacecraft?Could a satellite in LEO “pump” or change mass distribution to gain forward momentum?Could antimatter be used for spacecraft propulsion?Could radiated heat propel space-craft in outer space?Linear motion reaction wheels?What is the maximum speed an ion engine can propel a spacecraft at?Would Elon Musk's roadster be able to rotate itself using its wheels as reaction control?Why aren't magnetic bearings used more frequently in reaction wheels?Could a cubesat propel itself to Mars?Would a grinding machine be a simple and workable propulsion system for an interplanetary spacecraft?Could a CubeSat be propelled by this low-tech electromagnetic propulsion system?
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Could a complex system of reaction wheels be used to propel a spacecraft?
Could a satellite in LEO “pump” or change mass distribution to gain forward momentum?Could antimatter be used for spacecraft propulsion?Could radiated heat propel space-craft in outer space?Linear motion reaction wheels?What is the maximum speed an ion engine can propel a spacecraft at?Would Elon Musk's roadster be able to rotate itself using its wheels as reaction control?Why aren't magnetic bearings used more frequently in reaction wheels?Could a cubesat propel itself to Mars?Would a grinding machine be a simple and workable propulsion system for an interplanetary spacecraft?Could a CubeSat be propelled by this low-tech electromagnetic propulsion system?
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$begingroup$
I was think about different ways spacecraft could feasibly move around and I came across Reaction Wheels as a way they can rotate. So I was curious if a complex system of them could be used to propel a large spacecraft forward and backwards instead of spinning on the spot? It could be a way of maneuvering within a small area (around a POI or adjusting it’s orbit) while conserving more energy than higher tech propulsion systems.
*I’m not very well versed in physics so please forgive me if this is very out of the park.
propulsion spacecraft physics
asked 8 hours ago
SentiCarterSentiCarter
211 bronze badge
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SentiCarter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I was think about different ways spacecraft could feasibly move around and I came across Reaction Wheels as a way they can rotate. So I was curious if a complex system of them could be used to propel a large spacecraft forward and backwards instead of spinning on the spot? It could be a way of maneuvering within a small area (around a POI or adjusting it’s orbit) while conserving more energy than higher tech propulsion systems.
*I’m not very well versed in physics so please forgive me if this is very out of the park.
propulsion spacecraft physics
asked 8 hours ago
SentiCarterSentiCarter
211 bronze badge
New contributor
SentiCarter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
4
$begingroup$
Short answer: No. Longer answer is that in space, the center of mass keeps moving with the velocity it has. To change that velocity (speed or direction) you have to eject some mass or use the momentum of light in some fashion. So reactions wheels can spin you, but they can't change your velocity.
$endgroup$
– zeta-band
8 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactionless_drive "no rotating (or any other) mechanical device has ever been found to produce unidirectional reactionless thrust in free space"
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Angular momentum is additive. Any complex system of reaction wheels can be replaced with a simpler, larger system.
$endgroup$
– Mark
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I was think about different ways spacecraft could feasibly move around and I came across Reaction Wheels as a way they can rotate. So I was curious if a complex system of them could be used to propel a large spacecraft forward and backwards instead of spinning on the spot? It could be a way of maneuvering within a small area (around a POI or adjusting it’s orbit) while conserving more energy than higher tech propulsion systems.
*I’m not very well versed in physics so please forgive me if this is very out of the park.
propulsion spacecraft physics
asked 8 hours ago
SentiCarterSentiCarter
211 bronze badge
New contributor
SentiCarter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
I was think about different ways spacecraft could feasibly move around and I came across Reaction Wheels as a way they can rotate. So I was curious if a complex system of them could be used to propel a large spacecraft forward and backwards instead of spinning on the spot? It could be a way of maneuvering within a small area (around a POI or adjusting it’s orbit) while conserving more energy than higher tech propulsion systems.
*I’m not very well versed in physics so please forgive me if this is very out of the park.
propulsion spacecraft physics
propulsion spacecraft physics
asked 8 hours ago
SentiCarterSentiCarter
211 bronze badge
New contributor
SentiCarter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
SentiCarterSentiCarter
211 bronze badge
New contributor
SentiCarter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
SentiCarterSentiCarter
211 bronze badge
New contributor
SentiCarter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
SentiCarterSentiCarter
211 bronze badge
asked 8 hours ago
SentiCarterSentiCarter
211 bronze badge
211 bronze badge
New contributor
SentiCarter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
SentiCarter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
$begingroup$
Short answer: No. Longer answer is that in space, the center of mass keeps moving with the velocity it has. To change that velocity (speed or direction) you have to eject some mass or use the momentum of light in some fashion. So reactions wheels can spin you, but they can't change your velocity.
$endgroup$
– zeta-band
8 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactionless_drive "no rotating (or any other) mechanical device has ever been found to produce unidirectional reactionless thrust in free space"
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Angular momentum is additive. Any complex system of reaction wheels can be replaced with a simpler, larger system.
$endgroup$
– Mark
1 hour ago
add a comment |
4
$begingroup$
Short answer: No. Longer answer is that in space, the center of mass keeps moving with the velocity it has. To change that velocity (speed or direction) you have to eject some mass or use the momentum of light in some fashion. So reactions wheels can spin you, but they can't change your velocity.
$endgroup$
– zeta-band
8 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactionless_drive "no rotating (or any other) mechanical device has ever been found to produce unidirectional reactionless thrust in free space"
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Angular momentum is additive. Any complex system of reaction wheels can be replaced with a simpler, larger system.
$endgroup$
– Mark
1 hour ago
4
4
$begingroup$
Short answer: No. Longer answer is that in space, the center of mass keeps moving with the velocity it has. To change that velocity (speed or direction) you have to eject some mass or use the momentum of light in some fashion. So reactions wheels can spin you, but they can't change your velocity.
$endgroup$
– zeta-band
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Short answer: No. Longer answer is that in space, the center of mass keeps moving with the velocity it has. To change that velocity (speed or direction) you have to eject some mass or use the momentum of light in some fashion. So reactions wheels can spin you, but they can't change your velocity.
$endgroup$
– zeta-band
8 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactionless_drive "no rotating (or any other) mechanical device has ever been found to produce unidirectional reactionless thrust in free space"
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactionless_drive "no rotating (or any other) mechanical device has ever been found to produce unidirectional reactionless thrust in free space"
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Angular momentum is additive. Any complex system of reaction wheels can be replaced with a simpler, larger system.
$endgroup$
– Mark
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
Angular momentum is additive. Any complex system of reaction wheels can be replaced with a simpler, larger system.
$endgroup$
– Mark
1 hour ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Previously posted comments are correct: in free space (assumed free of any other bodies' gravity fields) there is no way to convert the reaction wheels' angular motion to translational motion.
There is one tongue-in-cheek way: throw a reaction wheel off the spacecraft in the direction opposite the direction of the desired delta-V! ;-)
If you abandon the free-space assumption and allow non-spherical gravitating bodies in the vicinity of the spacecraft, then it is possible, by turning the spacecraft at the right time and the right rate, to have tidal forces from the gravitating body wind up imparting a truly tiny delta-V on the spacecraft.
answered 8 hours ago
Tom SpilkerTom Spilker
12.4k35 silver badges60 bronze badges
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
I've been long fascinated by the question Could a satellite in LEO “pump” or change mass distribution to gain forward momentum? and I think your mention "truly tiny delta-V" addresses this in some way. Do you know of any place I could read further about how to turn the spacecraft "at the right time and the right rate" to maximize this? Something with some basic fundamental equations? There was a time when I knew how to write down a Lagrangian for a dynamical system, but that time has long-since passed...
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, it's a textbook case of conservation of the linear momentum vector in the absence of any external forces.
Linear momentum of a system Sum(mv) is a conserved quantity even if individual parts are allowed to change their momentum vectors.
Actually reaction wheels also conserve angular momentum of the total system (ship + wheel) as well! But that's Okay because you can keep the spinning reaction wheel inside the ship. It's also the case that angular position (facing) isn't conserved, so you can turn around in space using a reaction wheel, and at the end of the process the reaction wheel isn't spinning.
answered 4 hours ago
Roko MijicRoko Mijic
1352 silver badges10 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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oldest
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active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Previously posted comments are correct: in free space (assumed free of any other bodies' gravity fields) there is no way to convert the reaction wheels' angular motion to translational motion.
There is one tongue-in-cheek way: throw a reaction wheel off the spacecraft in the direction opposite the direction of the desired delta-V! ;-)
If you abandon the free-space assumption and allow non-spherical gravitating bodies in the vicinity of the spacecraft, then it is possible, by turning the spacecraft at the right time and the right rate, to have tidal forces from the gravitating body wind up imparting a truly tiny delta-V on the spacecraft.
answered 8 hours ago
Tom SpilkerTom Spilker
12.4k35 silver badges60 bronze badges
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
I've been long fascinated by the question Could a satellite in LEO “pump” or change mass distribution to gain forward momentum? and I think your mention "truly tiny delta-V" addresses this in some way. Do you know of any place I could read further about how to turn the spacecraft "at the right time and the right rate" to maximize this? Something with some basic fundamental equations? There was a time when I knew how to write down a Lagrangian for a dynamical system, but that time has long-since passed...
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Previously posted comments are correct: in free space (assumed free of any other bodies' gravity fields) there is no way to convert the reaction wheels' angular motion to translational motion.
There is one tongue-in-cheek way: throw a reaction wheel off the spacecraft in the direction opposite the direction of the desired delta-V! ;-)
If you abandon the free-space assumption and allow non-spherical gravitating bodies in the vicinity of the spacecraft, then it is possible, by turning the spacecraft at the right time and the right rate, to have tidal forces from the gravitating body wind up imparting a truly tiny delta-V on the spacecraft.
answered 8 hours ago
Tom SpilkerTom Spilker
12.4k35 silver badges60 bronze badges
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
I've been long fascinated by the question Could a satellite in LEO “pump” or change mass distribution to gain forward momentum? and I think your mention "truly tiny delta-V" addresses this in some way. Do you know of any place I could read further about how to turn the spacecraft "at the right time and the right rate" to maximize this? Something with some basic fundamental equations? There was a time when I knew how to write down a Lagrangian for a dynamical system, but that time has long-since passed...
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Previously posted comments are correct: in free space (assumed free of any other bodies' gravity fields) there is no way to convert the reaction wheels' angular motion to translational motion.
There is one tongue-in-cheek way: throw a reaction wheel off the spacecraft in the direction opposite the direction of the desired delta-V! ;-)
If you abandon the free-space assumption and allow non-spherical gravitating bodies in the vicinity of the spacecraft, then it is possible, by turning the spacecraft at the right time and the right rate, to have tidal forces from the gravitating body wind up imparting a truly tiny delta-V on the spacecraft.
answered 8 hours ago
Tom SpilkerTom Spilker
12.4k35 silver badges60 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Previously posted comments are correct: in free space (assumed free of any other bodies' gravity fields) there is no way to convert the reaction wheels' angular motion to translational motion.
There is one tongue-in-cheek way: throw a reaction wheel off the spacecraft in the direction opposite the direction of the desired delta-V! ;-)
If you abandon the free-space assumption and allow non-spherical gravitating bodies in the vicinity of the spacecraft, then it is possible, by turning the spacecraft at the right time and the right rate, to have tidal forces from the gravitating body wind up imparting a truly tiny delta-V on the spacecraft.
answered 8 hours ago
Tom SpilkerTom Spilker
12.4k35 silver badges60 bronze badges
answered 8 hours ago
Tom SpilkerTom Spilker
12.4k35 silver badges60 bronze badges
answered 8 hours ago
Tom SpilkerTom Spilker
12.4k35 silver badges60 bronze badges
answered 8 hours ago
Tom SpilkerTom Spilker
12.4k35 silver badges60 bronze badges
12.4k35 silver badges60 bronze badges
1
$begingroup$
I've been long fascinated by the question Could a satellite in LEO “pump” or change mass distribution to gain forward momentum? and I think your mention "truly tiny delta-V" addresses this in some way. Do you know of any place I could read further about how to turn the spacecraft "at the right time and the right rate" to maximize this? Something with some basic fundamental equations? There was a time when I knew how to write down a Lagrangian for a dynamical system, but that time has long-since passed...
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
I've been long fascinated by the question Could a satellite in LEO “pump” or change mass distribution to gain forward momentum? and I think your mention "truly tiny delta-V" addresses this in some way. Do you know of any place I could read further about how to turn the spacecraft "at the right time and the right rate" to maximize this? Something with some basic fundamental equations? There was a time when I knew how to write down a Lagrangian for a dynamical system, but that time has long-since passed...
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
I've been long fascinated by the question Could a satellite in LEO “pump” or change mass distribution to gain forward momentum? and I think your mention "truly tiny delta-V" addresses this in some way. Do you know of any place I could read further about how to turn the spacecraft "at the right time and the right rate" to maximize this? Something with some basic fundamental equations? There was a time when I knew how to write down a Lagrangian for a dynamical system, but that time has long-since passed...
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
I've been long fascinated by the question Could a satellite in LEO “pump” or change mass distribution to gain forward momentum? and I think your mention "truly tiny delta-V" addresses this in some way. Do you know of any place I could read further about how to turn the spacecraft "at the right time and the right rate" to maximize this? Something with some basic fundamental equations? There was a time when I knew how to write down a Lagrangian for a dynamical system, but that time has long-since passed...
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, it's a textbook case of conservation of the linear momentum vector in the absence of any external forces.
Linear momentum of a system Sum(mv) is a conserved quantity even if individual parts are allowed to change their momentum vectors.
Actually reaction wheels also conserve angular momentum of the total system (ship + wheel) as well! But that's Okay because you can keep the spinning reaction wheel inside the ship. It's also the case that angular position (facing) isn't conserved, so you can turn around in space using a reaction wheel, and at the end of the process the reaction wheel isn't spinning.
answered 4 hours ago
Roko MijicRoko Mijic
1352 silver badges10 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, it's a textbook case of conservation of the linear momentum vector in the absence of any external forces.
Linear momentum of a system Sum(mv) is a conserved quantity even if individual parts are allowed to change their momentum vectors.
Actually reaction wheels also conserve angular momentum of the total system (ship + wheel) as well! But that's Okay because you can keep the spinning reaction wheel inside the ship. It's also the case that angular position (facing) isn't conserved, so you can turn around in space using a reaction wheel, and at the end of the process the reaction wheel isn't spinning.
answered 4 hours ago
Roko MijicRoko Mijic
1352 silver badges10 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, it's a textbook case of conservation of the linear momentum vector in the absence of any external forces.
Linear momentum of a system Sum(mv) is a conserved quantity even if individual parts are allowed to change their momentum vectors.
Actually reaction wheels also conserve angular momentum of the total system (ship + wheel) as well! But that's Okay because you can keep the spinning reaction wheel inside the ship. It's also the case that angular position (facing) isn't conserved, so you can turn around in space using a reaction wheel, and at the end of the process the reaction wheel isn't spinning.
answered 4 hours ago
Roko MijicRoko Mijic
1352 silver badges10 bronze badges
$endgroup$
No, it's a textbook case of conservation of the linear momentum vector in the absence of any external forces.
Linear momentum of a system Sum(mv) is a conserved quantity even if individual parts are allowed to change their momentum vectors.
Actually reaction wheels also conserve angular momentum of the total system (ship + wheel) as well! But that's Okay because you can keep the spinning reaction wheel inside the ship. It's also the case that angular position (facing) isn't conserved, so you can turn around in space using a reaction wheel, and at the end of the process the reaction wheel isn't spinning.
answered 4 hours ago
Roko MijicRoko Mijic
1352 silver badges10 bronze badges
answered 4 hours ago
Roko MijicRoko Mijic
1352 silver badges10 bronze badges
answered 4 hours ago
Roko MijicRoko Mijic
1352 silver badges10 bronze badges
answered 4 hours ago
Roko MijicRoko Mijic
1352 silver badges10 bronze badges
1352 silver badges10 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
Short answer: No. Longer answer is that in space, the center of mass keeps moving with the velocity it has. To change that velocity (speed or direction) you have to eject some mass or use the momentum of light in some fashion. So reactions wheels can spin you, but they can't change your velocity.
$endgroup$
– zeta-band
8 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactionless_drive "no rotating (or any other) mechanical device has ever been found to produce unidirectional reactionless thrust in free space"
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Angular momentum is additive. Any complex system of reaction wheels can be replaced with a simpler, larger system.
$endgroup$
– Mark
1 hour ago