ELECTRICAL SAIL TO DRIVE SPACESHIP Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC B64G1/40 

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to spaceship power plants, particularly, to sail-type systems exploiting sun wind to generate thrust. Electrical sail comprises multiple elongated electric wire components (wires) 102 extending radially from spaceship airframe 101 with the help of auxiliary jet power system. Said system rotates airframe 101 to develop centrifugal force to extend said wires. Airframe 101 is equipped with electric potential generator, for example, electron gun connected to wires via controlled electric connection. Said gun emits electron flow 103 along, for example, spaceship rotational axis. Electrons flow from wires 104 into airframe 101 so that wires get positive potential relative to surrounding plasma. This allows interaction of sail with sun wind protons to generate required thrust. Proposed device incorporates navigation system to regulate voltage at wires via said controlled electric connection. This allows controlling electric sail thrust magnitude and direction as well as motion of wires.

EFFECT: efficient and reliable control of space flight.

17 cl, 10 dwg