Mach‐Lorentz Thruster Spacecraft Applications

At STAIF‐2006, the author presented research into the Mach‐Effect and its spin‐off, the Mach‐Lorentz Thruster (MLT); both of which were created by Woodward. Herein, these MLTs are assessed to see how they could impact the transportation industry if the MLT’s force output scales as predicted by Woodward. These MLT force scaling rules, which are that the MLT output force varies with the cube of the cap voltage and operating frequency but linearly with the B‐field, provide a viable path to increasing the MLT’s current specific thrust of ∼1×10⁻⁵ Newton per Watt (N/W) up to ∼1.0 N/W, but to do so these MLTs have to overcome their already evident material and control technology issues. However, a preliminary MLT powered spacecraft design demonstrates the enhanced performance capabilities of such a vehicle assuming the availability of 100 Watt/kg electrical power supplies, while illuminating some of the MLT design difficulties as well. This 26.5 metric tonne MLT powered spacecraft points to new capabilities such as traveling from the surface of the Earth to the surface of the Moon using only electrical fuel cell and battery derived energy. Roundtrip times for such an Earth‐Moon‐Earth journey, carrying a crew of two with a 2‐metric tonne payload both ways, could be under 12‐hours without refueling; assuming 0.50‐to‐1.50 Earth‐g’s continuous accelerations and decelerations for the various flight segments. If perfected, this MLT propulsion technology could also power land, sea and air vehicles back on Earth.