2026-09-19T06:31:35Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/1501532023-04-01T03:04:15Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131024
Hart, Douglas
Gershon, Levi
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
2023-03-31T14:36:08Z
2023-03-31T14:36:08Z
2023-02
2023-03-01T15:16:03.631Z
https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/150153
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7700-9570
This paper explores the use of the Lorentz force to magnetically steer a rocket engine’s thrust plume, creating an off-axis thrust component. The perpendicular force component thus generated, for the sample design used is estimated at 0.002% without sodium seeding, and 3.5% with said seeding. The design of a prototype thruster is undertaken, burning gaseous propane and oxygen, resulting in a combustion chamber, expansion nozzle, and a magnetic circuit to drive the Lorentz steering force. While the predicted unseeded effect is too small to be useful, sodium seeding may be viable on small vehicles or satellites where minimizing overall system complexity is benefited by eliminating otherwise separate attitude control systems.
S.B.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Copyright retained by author(s)
https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/
Electromagnetic Steering of Sodium-Seeded Rocket Thrust Plumes: Design & Analysis
Thesis
application/pdf
Bachelor
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Publication
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unknown
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<Abstract>This paper explores the use of the Lorentz force to magnetically steer a rocket engine’s thrust plume, creating an off-axis thrust component. The perpendicular force component thus generated, for the sample design used is estimated at 0.002% without sodium seeding, and 3.5% with said seeding. The design of a prototype thruster is undertaken, burning gaseous propane and oxygen, resulting in a combustion chamber, expansion nozzle, and a magnetic circuit to drive the Lorentz steering force. While the predicted unseeded effect is too small to be useful, sodium seeding may be viable on small vehicles or satellites where minimizing overall system complexity is benefited by eliminating otherwise separate attitude control systems.</Abstract>
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