Swing Effects in Spacecraft Control
Franz Heeke - Muenster, Germany
It is being proposed to carry out experiments with
"swing effects" in controlling orbits or trajectories
of spacecraft.
1. Background
My publication "Shaker effects in celestial mechanics"
describes angular momentum exchange in celestial
systems. That article may provide some supplementary
information to following statements and ideas (article1).
Exchange of angular momentum in celestial systems
is basically well known:
- The rotation of earth is slowing down (tidal braking)
and our moon's orbit is widening. There is a transfer
of angular momentum from earth to moon.
- The orbit of Mars- moon Phobos, on the other hand,
is contracting. Mars' rotation is speeding up (tidal
drag). There is a transfer of angular momentum from
Phobos to Mars.
- Man made spacecraft can pick up angular momentum
from planets in "gravitational slingshot-" or
"swing-by-" "maneuvers. A transfer of angular momentum
takes place from planet to the spacecraft.
All these phenomena are related or equivalent to
the effects observed in a swing.
2. The Concept
The underlying idea of the proposed experiments is,
to achieve a widening of spacecraft- orbits (as in
case of earth- moon) or a contracting of spacecraft-
orbits (as in case of Phobos- Mars) with a piece of
on-board technical equipment. The working of this technical
equipment would be based on the principle of a swing.
Figure-5/1 shows a .swing system The rotation is being
driven by lifting the body mass against earth's
gravitation at the lowest point.
This swing system obviously
can be replaced by a "gravitation wheel" (G-Wheel) with a
number of movable masses on spokes, as shown in Figure-5/2.
In that way a more smoother rotation is being achieved.
The movable masses in this G-Wheel are being lifted
up against gravitational forces, whenever in vertical
position. The center of mass of the wheel thus is always outside
of its axis of rotation. Gravitation then produces a rotation,
which will accelerate, as long as the input of energy goes
on (friction neglected). How the required energy comes
in, can be left open at this stage.
My understanding of physical laws involved
is, that this G-Wheel is "heavier than at rest" as long
as its rotation is being accelerated. Einstein's
principle of equivalence applies, according to his
famous (Gedanken-) elevator experiment. We all feel
"heavier" in an upward accelerating elevator (to the contrary
when accelerating downward). The individual masses
in shown G-Wheel are continuously being accelerated upward.
The difference to an elevator is, that the upward- acceleration
here changes to an acceleration of rotation.
The individual masses of the G-Wheel obviously
can be lifted up as well against earth's gravitation
as against the gravitation of a distant moon
(Figure-5/2). There is no difference in principle.
The rotating G-Wheel now may be looked upon as a
rotating celestial body, like a planet. Its initial
rotation will accelerate, if operated as before. At same
time a reaction force is being generated toward the moon. The
imaginary planet (G-Wheel) moves closer to its moon, picking
up angular momentum from it. Moon's orbit is contracting,
as in case of Phobos-Mars.
The rotation of the imaginary planet (G-Wheel) in contrast
will slow down and decelerate, when rotating in opposite
direction, to the left. Individual masses on the spokes
are being pushed down in that case, towards the moon, when in
upper and lower vertical position. The imaginary planet
(G-Wheel) then transfers energy and angular momentum to its
moon. Moon's orbit is widening, as in case of Earth- Moon.
The eccentric moving of masses is being brought
about in real celestial systems by tidal forces. A tidal drag
then may be expected, when an eccentric mass (a tidal bulge)
is moving and being pulled in direction toward the moon, a tidal braking,
when such an eccentric mass (tidal bulge) is moving away from it.
In case of Figure-5/2: The rotation of the imaginary planet will
accelerate, as long as its center of mass is to the right of the
line planet-moon, its rotation would slow down and decelerate, if
the center of mass would be to the left of this line.
3. History
About thirty years ago I developed a G-Wheel
as shown in Figure-3 below. That wheel works
in principle the same way as the one in Figure-5/2.
Eccentric masses on small planetary wheels inside
a big carrier wheel are continuously being lifted upward,
driven and controlled by an internally placed
(electric) drive, which can be placed in different positions.
The center of mass of the carrier
wheel (Figure-3) remains always outside of its axis of rotation.
Gravitation thus causes the carrier wheel to rotate
and accelerate in right direction. I demonstrated
the functioning of this G-Wheel with a simple prototype
with two planet wheels (Figure 3/A) at the patent office in
Munich. My invention then was awarded the German patent DE
2821 827 C2 on 30th June 1983 (meanwhile expired).
Starting with an initial rotational
speed (the faster the better) the carrier wheel
may resemble an imaginary rotating planet as described
before. It is possible, according to my understanding,
to simulate "tidal drag" and "tidal braking" with
such a wheel on- board a spacecraft. The orbit or trajectory
of the spacecraft then will change. Some rough calculations
are being put up for
discussion separately.
It proved to be impossible twenty
five years ago, to get a company or research
institute interested in financing further development
of this invention. Most experts refused to accept
the underlying idea. They probably still do so. However,
there can be no doubt, that some day a curious researcher
will do the required test work, either to prove me wrong, or to
prove me right. So, time will show, what is all about.
The described device, if working as assumed, may save a lot of expenditure
in spacecraft control (reducing fuel consumption, extending lifetime
of satellites), whereas the basic verification tests can be carried
out with quite limited funding. Proving, that the G-Wheel is indeed
"heavier than at rest" as long as its rotation is being accelerated,
may even be possible with a simple G-Wheel put together from gears
and components of an advanced mechanical construction kit.
F. Heeke, Homepage 6-2009
(updated 3-2010)
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