Jupiter’s magnetic field can provide propulsion and power to spaceships or satellites
Electrodynamic tether (EDT) can be used propulsion and power generation for a spacecraft in the Jovian system. The environment of the Jovian system has properties which are particularly favorable for utilization of an EDT. Specifically, the planet has a strong magnetic field and the mass of the planet dictates high orbital velocities which, when combined with the planet’s rapid rotation rate, can produce very large relative velocities between the magnetic field and the spacecraft. In a circular orbit close to the planet, tether propulsive forces are found to be as high as 50 Newtons and power levels as high as 1 MW.
A tether length of 10 km has been assumed, along with a cylindrical tether of l-mm diameter.
The voltage peaks at 290,000 V and the current peaks at 26.5 A. The power peaks at 6.6 Megawatts.
In a circular orbit near the planet, it appears that induced tether voltages can reach as high as 50,000 V, currents can become greater than 20 A, power levels can reach over a million watts, and propulsive forces can reach higher than 50 N.
Another paper looks at utilizing tethers for power around Jupiter
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