Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS) space demonstration

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Abstract
The Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS) space experiment will demonstrate the use of an electrodynamic tether propulsion system. The flight experiment is a precursor to the more ambitious electrodynamic tether upper stage demonstration mission which will be capable of orbit raising, lowering and inclination changing—all using electrodynamic thrust. ProSEDS, which is planned to fly in 2000, will use the flight-proven Small Expendable Deployer System (SEDS) to deploy a tether (5-km bare wire plus 15-km spectra) from a Delta II upper stage to achieve ∼0.4N drag thrust, thus deorbiting the stage. The experiment will use a predominantly ‘bare’ tether for current collection in lieu of the endmass collector and insulated tether approach used on previous missions. ProSEDS will utilize tether-generated current to provide limited spacecraft power. In addition to the use of this technology to provide orbit transfer of payloads and upper stages from low-Earth orbit (LEO) to higher orbits, it may also be an attractive option for future missions to Jupiter and any other planetary body with a magnetosphere.

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