The backbone of
using EDT's for interstellar travel has to do
with the Lorentz force. This is the force that
is made when the current flowing through the
wire reacts with the earths magnetic field. It
propels the spacecraft in another direction.
This is how spacecrafts move when it is using
the electrodynamic tether system. This allows
for a more efficient way of moving a
spacecraft. Depending on the conductive
material used for the tether the overall price
would be cheaper than using thrust to move an
object. The EDT can also be used to generate
power aboard a spacecraft. It can also go the
other way around as it can allow acceleration
of the spacecraft. While this seems like a
good idea it doesn't get rid of the whole
using thrust to enter and exit a specif power
beam or make solar passes. Below is an image
showing how EDT's can be used for interstellar
travel.
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Figure from ""Fig34 Plane Thrust". Licensed
under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fig34_Plane_Thrust.PNG#/media/File:Fig34_Plane_Thrust.PNG"
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In the figure above it shows
how with a specific velocity and movement, how
the thrust moves the spacecraft and which
direction it will move. An in-plane thrust is
when it's in the same direction as the
velocity where an out-of-plane thrust is in a
opposite direction as the velocity.
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