Re: starship-design: Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion, M2P2 , system

[Ben Franchuk <bfranchuk@jetnet.ab.ca>]

KellySt@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I wonder if this could be used effectively as an interstellar break?  Nothing
> in the paper talks about effective ISP or power consumption vrs thrust.
> 
> Kelly
> 
> http://peaches.niac.usra.edu/studies/9801/winglee.html
> 
> The Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion, M2P2 , system provides a
> revolutionary means for spacecraft propulsion that can efficiently utilize
> the energy from the space plasmas to accelerate payloads to much higher
> speeds than can be attained by present chemical (oxidizing propulsion
> systems.  The system utilizes an innovative configuration of existing
> technology based on well established principles of plasma physics. It has the
> potential of feasibly providing cheap, fast propulsion that could power
> Interstellar Probe.

Sounds like we found the IMPULSE drive of star trek type space craft.
If the plasma propulsion idea can be expanded into a real interstellar ramjet,
next stop the planets.