Patent Abstract:
An apparatus and method that make use of electromagnetic energy to maneuver an object, such as stop, slow, and/or divert a vessel or projectile in low and zero-gravity environments. The apparatus comprises an element capable of generating a magnetic field in the zero or low-gravity environment, and an object capable of electromagnetically interacting with the magnetic field so that the object&#39;s speed and/or trajectory is altered when moving in proximity to the magnetic-field generating element. As such, the method entails maneuvering an object in a zero or low-gravity environment by generating a magnetic field in the zero or low-gravity environment, and then moving the object in proximity to the magnetic field such that the magnetic field alters the trajectory and/or speed of the object.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/320,269, filed Jun. 13, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to the general field of rocketry, orbital transfers and satellite station-keeping, as well as space vessel attitude control. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and method for maneuvering objects in low and zero-gravity environments using electromagnetic forces. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The current state of the art in orbital transfers and station keeping involve reaction rockets using a variety of fuels, either chemical or electrostatic acceleration. Chemically-fueled rockets require that fuel be brought along, and this limits the performance of the rocket through the rocket equation.
 
Δ V=I   sp   ·g ·ln( M   o   /M   f )
 
where ΔV is the velocity change given the specific impulse of the rocket motor (I sp ), the gravitational constant (g), and the logarithm of the ratio of weights before (M o ) and after (M f ) the burn.
 
   It would be desirable if alternative techniques were available to stop, slow, and divert objects in low-gravity (orbital) and zero-gravity environments. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an apparatus and method that make use of electromagnetic energy to maneuver an object, such as stop, slow, and/or divert a vessel or projectile, in low and zero-gravity environments. The apparatus comprises means for generating a magnetic field in the zero or low-gravity environment, and an object capable of electromagnetically interacting with the magnetic field so that the object&#39;s speed and/or trajectory is altered when moving in proximity to the generating means. As such, the method of this invention entails maneuvering an object in a zero or low-gravity environment by generating a magnetic field in the zero or low-gravity environment, and then moving the object in proximity to the magnetic field and sufficiently close to the generating means such that the magnetic field alters the trajectory and/or speed of the object. 
   A significant advantage of this invention is that maneuvering of an object can be exclusively performed using electromagnetic forces, which offer numerous advantages over chemically-fueled and electrostatically-accelerated rockets. The invention achieves efficient orbital injection and ejection without the need for chemical rockets, and can be adapted to use inexhaustible solar energy and/or harvest energy from decelerating/deflecting objects. The invention is adapted to perform either or both of two general classes of orbital maneuver, namely, altering the speed or trajectory of an object. The first class encompasses catching (decelerating) and launching (accelerating) objects, while the second involves deflecting an object, such as forcing an object into or out of an orbital path. In combination, the invention provides a general purpose orbital transfer system and method. For example, a payload launched from the Moon can be deflected into a geosynchronous orbit around the Earth, and then ejected from orbit and accelerated back to the Moon. Fine control over the electromagnetic forces employed in these maneuvers is possible through control circuitry with feedback sensors, such that objects can be delivered, captured and placed in orbit with precision. 
   Other objects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  schematically represents a plurality of orbiting deceleration coils aligned along the path of a payload in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 2  demonstrates an inductive deceleration operation performed with a magnetic field in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a tangential capture scheme that can be performed with one or more magnetic fields generated in accordance with  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  represents an apparatus for performing any one of the operations depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  represent energy conversion and storage during capturing of a payload and acceleration of a payload using the stored energy in accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  demonstrate deflection operations that can be performed with multiple magnetic fields in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 9  depicts a capture scheme that can be performed in accordance with the embodiments of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  schematically represent a control system for performing a payload deflection operations. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  represent a deflection operation that can be performed with electric fields in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   General concepts of the invention can be described in reference to  FIG. 1 , which depicts three orbiting conductive rings or coils  10  aligned in a substantially straight line along the trajectory  12  of a traveling object, which may be a canister, projectile, vessel, etc., hereafter simply referred to as a payload  14 . The coils  10  are represented as being generally annular-shaped, though other shapes are possible. The term “coil” is used herein as any structure capable of producing a magnetic field, and may be a single loop or a winding of multiple concentric loops, as will be evident from the Figures. The magnetic fields produced by the coils  10  are generated with the intent to exert an electromagnetic force on the moving payload  14 . The payload  14  is adapted to electromagnetically interact with the magnetic fields, and therefore is formed to contain a ferrous material, hold a static charge, or contain an electromagnet, e.g., superconducting or electric with control circuitry and some form of energy storage device, such as a capacitor or battery. As the payload  14  passes through or near each coil  10 , the electromotive force (emf), or Lorentz force, applies a force to the payload  14 . More particularly, the coils  10  as arranged in  FIG. 1  apply a deceleration force to the payload  14 . In an alternative embodiment that will be described in reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the payload  14  travels past the coils  10  (instead of through them), causing the trajectory  12  of the payload  14  to be bent along the radius of a circle or spiral for the purpose of diverting the payload  14  from or into an orbit. In either case, a plurality of coils  10  is believed to be generally desirable to spread the forces across a larger period of time, to spare the payload  14 , and reduce design constraints on the size, accuracy and power needed in the coils  10 . 
   The process of altering the orbit of a high-velocity projectile requires precise control and accurate sensing capabilities. Sophisticated control electronics  16  is therefore an important aspect of the invention, including the use of sensors for sensing position, velocity, and magnetic fields. The control electronics  16  is preferably coupled to the other components of the system either rigidly, through flexible connections, or wirelessly as may be demanded by design considerations. Because navigation and station-keeping are important, each coil  10  is also preferably provided with station-keeping and attitude control devices  18  to apply optimal velocity and timing to correctly adjust the velocity of the payload  14 . 
   When the payload  14  enters the magnetic field generated by one of the coils  10 , a back-emf pulse is generated that is aligned with the linear direction of the trajectory  12  of the payload  14 . As will be discussed in reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , this energy back into the system (Lenz&#39;s law) can be captured and stored in a variety of ways. For example, the stored energy can be used to reduce the power requirements for the entire system, and also used as a means to provide propulsive thrust to the payload  14 . In this way, the same coils  10  can be used for acceleration as well as deceleration, which in combination with the ability to deflect the payload  14  enables fine control of orbital transfer. 
   In view of the above, an arrangement of components is preferably employed to yield an apparatus capable of directing the momentum of a traveling body, such as the payload  14  of  FIG. 1 . The following discussion is based on the usage of such an apparatus in orbit, and certain specific advantages follow from this. However, the same principles could be used in nearly any environment. Also as discussed above, two operational embodiments of the invention will be discussed, with the principle acting component of each embodiment comprising one or more magnetic fields generated by, for example, coils capable of sustaining a large electric current and suitably configured to create a magnetic field. According to the first operational embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  and described in greater detail in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the payload  14  passes through the central (axial) openings  20  of one or more coils  10 . By fabricating the payload  14  to contain one or more ferrous materials (such as iron or iron-rich minerals like magnetite), the coil current in the coil  10  can be adjusted to impart a force on the payload  14  that slows the payload  14 . Such an embodiment is a linear approach to the invention, operates along substantially straight lines, and may require one or more coils  10 . According to the second operational embodiment described in reference to  FIGS. 7 through 9 , the payload  14  is passed across the openings  20  of the coils  10 . As it passes, the payload  14  is pulled toward the coil  10  or pushed away from the coil  10 , causing its trajectory  12  to be bent. Through the use of several such coils  10  judiciously spaced along the intended trajectory  12 , the speeding payload  14  can be coaxed to a new, more desirable orbit. Each of these approaches will be described and then their application described. A discussion of various alternative implementations and applications will build upon these foundations. 
   The first operational approach, which makes use of what is referred to herein as an inductive deceleration (ID) apparatus  22 , is depicted in  FIG. 2  with continued reference to the coil  10  and payload  14  originally discussed in reference to  FIG. 1 . It is a well-known principle of the physics of electromagnetism that a current through a coil produces a magnetic field. The lines of force of a magnetic field generated by the coil  10  in this manner are depicted in dashed lines in  FIG. 2 . Similar to the principles of an electric solenoid, when the payload  14  (or another magnetic material) enters the magnetic field, a force is applied to the payload  14 . The magnitude of the force is determined by the current, the number of winds, the area of the coil  10 , and a number of secondary factors. The magnitude of the magnetic field force is derived from a calculation including the mass of the payload  14  and its starting and desired velocity vectors. The goal of the ID apparatus  22  is to modify the velocity of the payload  14 . Depending on design considerations and economics, a single coil  10  might be preferable, or it may be that an apparatus  22  comprising a series of individual coils  10  is optimum. 
   Another alternative for payload design is to use a conventional electromagnet in the form of one or more coils of an electrically-conductive material. Electric energy can be stored and possibly harvested en route by solar cells until contact is made with the ID apparatus  22 . The charge would be driven through the coils, generating a momentary magnetic field that provides greater stopping power for a given magnetic field. This method would require communications and a more expensive payload  14  than merely iron, but could be operated at higher speeds, which may be desirable under certain conditions. 
   Another alternative for payload design is to use a conventional electromagnet in the form of a coil  10  of an electrically-conductive material. Electric energy can be stored and possibly harvested en route by solar cells until contact is made with the ID apparatus  22 . The charge would be driven through the coils  10 , generating a momentary magnetic field that provides greater stopping power for a given magnetic field. This method would require communications and a more expensive payload  14  than merely iron, but could be operated at higher speeds, which may be desirable under certain conditions. 
   Because it utilizes a linear technique, the ID apparatus  22  of  FIG. 2  is ideally suited for orbital transfers arriving on a tangent. In fact, the ability to set up a tangential trajectory makes inductive deceleration ideally suited for low time-of-travel operations. To illustrate inductive deceleration in the embodiment of this invention,  FIG. 3  depicts a payload launched from the Moon  24  by some means (perhaps chemical or electromagnetic, such as a mass-driver or rail-gun) and targeted at the ID apparatus  22  in a geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO)  26 , a preferred spot for many satellite applications. The launch velocity from the Moon  24  must first exceed the lunar escape velocity, typically at a much higher speed because the orbital velocity of GEO is approximately 3.2 times that of lunar orbital velocity. This is determined through the satellite equation:
 
 v   2   =GM/r  
 
where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the Earth, and r and v are the radius and velocity, respectively, of the orbit of a satellite. When a payload is launched from the Moon  24  towards GEO  26 , its velocity relative to Earth&#39;s center will be the sum of the Moon&#39;s velocity and its own launch velocity. If the launch is aimed and timed properly, the trajectory  12  can be placed so that it very nearly lines up on a tangent to the GEO  26 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 . The arrows in  FIG. 3  show the approximate trajectory  12  of the payload as seen from the Solar System north over a fixed Earth center. The length of each arrow indicates the speed of the projectile vector at that location. The angle and speed of the launch from the Moon  24  was chosen so that upon arrival at GEO  26 , the velocity vector is nearly perfectly on a tangent with GEO  26 . The ID apparatus  22 , acting linearly as described above, is in position to absorb the excess velocity of the payload&#39;s motion. The coil  10  (or coils  10 ) are positioned and designed such that the payload&#39;s new velocity would be identical to the geosynchronous orbit, effectively coming to rest from the perspective of an object already in GEO  26 .
 
   There is a certain amount of momentum transfer between the payload  14  and the coils  10  as the payload is slowed. In other words, the act of slowing the payload  14  will tug the apparatus  22  in the direction of the payload&#39;s velocity vector. Important design considerations include the mass-power tradeoff in the design of the coil  10  and its power source, and also the tradeoff between high inertia and rapid return-to-station attitude adjustment.  FIG. 4  shows one possible configuration for a coil assemblage  28  for the ID apparatus  22 , including a coil  10  (comprising a number of conductive windings), a controller box  30  (which may also include communications and energy storage), antennae  32  for communications, station-keeper thrusters  34  to maintain a desired orbit and attitude, and solar panels  36  to provide electrical power. Connections can be rigid, flexible, or wireless as needed to optimize overall system performance. 
   Alignment of the payload  14  and the coil  10  of the assemblage  28  is of critical importance. This alignment is facilitated by accurate aiming of the launched payload  14  or accurate determination of its trajectory  12  after launch. If the payload  14  does not have a magnetic field of its own, the current state-of-the-art in orbital mechanics can predict the trajectory of the payload  14  from, for example, the Moon to, for example, GEO. However, even with fine control over the launch together with precision measurements of the trajectory  12 , there may be other forces that cause a deviation from an ideal trajectory. For that reason, the ID apparatus  22  preferably has the capability to propitiously position each of its coil assemblages  28  with respect to the incoming payload  14 . 
   The coils  10  and coil assemblages  28  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4  must be aligned properly with the approaching payload to maximize the effectiveness of the desired velocity modification. This will, in general, involve motion about six degrees of freedom: linear translation in three dimensions and rotational motions in three dimensions. In addition to proper attitude positioning, it may also be desirable for the coils  10  to have a velocity relative to the desired orbit. This additional velocity, which might be provided by the station-keeper thrusters  26  shown in  FIG. 4  or by separate thrusters (not shown), reduces the requirements for electric currents and provides greater flexibility to optimize system performance based on relative capabilities of the apparatus” components. A generalized control system for the entire system is depicted in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , which will be discussed below. 
   As previously noted, a back-emf pulse is induced in the coil  10  as the ferrous or magnetic-containing payload  14  passes through its magnetic field. This reverse power can be captured, or harvested, through appropriate power circuitry and conditioned for an appropriate use. One such use is to charge up a capacitor, a battery, or other known storage mechanism for electrical energy. This power can be reserved until the arrival of another payload and used to generate the forward current, thereby easing the power demands of the overall system and minimizing the amount of momentum change experienced by the coil assemblage  28 . To illustrate,  FIG. 5  shows the moment in time when the payload  14  passes through the center of the opening  20  of the coil  10 . The graph indicates current flow (I) through the coil  10  over time, showing first the steady-state current needed for the deceleration field. Next, a reverse current spike appears due to the back-emf induced at the arrival of the payload  14 , as depicted in  FIG. 5 . Thereafter, a drop-off or decay of current occurs as the magnetic field has completed its work and is shut down.  FIG. 5  shows how this excess current can be captured, for example by using a level-shifted diode or high-pass filter, and then saved in an electrical energy storage unit  38 , such as one or more capacitors, batteries, superconducting electromagnets, etc. 
   A second use for the back-emf power surge is to power certain high-voltage devices that might do useful work for the apparatus  22 . Some examples might be to fire the station-keeper thrusters  34  or attitude-positioning thrusters (not shown) to immediately help restore a desirable speed and altitude after the encounter with the moving payload  14 . Other uses might include driving pumped lasers, which could be applied to do useful work on the apparatus  22 . 
     FIG. 6  represents usage of the harvested back-emf power to accelerate the payload  14  (or an empty container) to perform station-keeping, perform inter-orbital transfers, etc. For this purpose, the stored charge, possibly augmented by solar power absorbed by the solar panels  36  shown in  FIG. 4 , is used to initiate a magnetic field that imparts a force to the payload  14 . This might be accomplished either by reversing the current direction, which would be convenient but not necessarily simple, or by simply turning the coil assemblage  28  around and restarting the current in a forward direction. With this capability, an installation of the coil assemblage  28  using ID technology would facilitate a local distribution center where high-speed payloads are slowed and then delivered around the GEO trace, a fertile land in the desert of space 185,000 miles long. 
   With further reference to  FIGS. 7 through 11 , magnetic fields placed along a curved path can be employed to modify the velocity vector of the payload  14 , for example, to deflect a payload launched from the Moon into a geosynchronous orbit as represented by  FIG. 9 . The principles of such a velocity modification are represented in  FIG. 7 , which shows an apparatus  40  comprising a first coil  10  generating a magnetic field at an approximately right angle to the incoming trajectory  12  of the payload  14 . With this configuration, the trajectory  12  of the payload  14  can be bent or turned to a more desirable direction. The payload  14  passes across the opening  20  of the first coil  10 , oriented so that its magnetic field pulls the payload  14  toward the coil  10  so as to change the trajectory  12  of the payload  14 . Anticipating this effect, a second coil  10  is favorably positioned so that it further bends the payload trajectory  12 . By using a sufficiently large individual coil  10  or an appropriate number of smaller coils  10 , an incoming payload  14  can be shifted through a turn of any desired amount. As evident from  FIG. 7 , the axes of the coils  10  are aligned as radii of a circle, the trajectory  12  lies along the radially-outward ends of the coils  10 , and the magnetic fields of the coils  10  pull the payload  14  toward the coils  10 . Alternatively, the trajectory  12  could lie along the radially-inward side of the coils  10 , such that the magnetic fields cooperate to push the payload  14  away from the coils  10 .  FIG. 8  represents deflecting a payload  14  through a rotation to not only align the payload  14  with a desired orbit, but to also draw kinetic energy from the payload  14  and thereby reduce its speed. Instead of being aligned in a circular arrangement, the axes of the coils  10  could be aligned as radii of a spiral. Such a configuration is represented in  FIG. 8 , which shows the payload trajectory  12  as being bent through 450 degrees with six coils  10 . It is foreseeable that any number of coils  10  could be employed to bend the trajectory of a payload through essentially any curvilinear path. 
   With further reference to  FIGS. 7 through 11 , magnetic fields placed along a curved path can be employed to modify the velocity vector of the payload  14 , for example, to deflect a payload launched from the Moon into a geosynchronous orbit as represented by  FIG. 9 . The principles of such a velocity modification are represented in  FIG. 7 , which shows an apparatus  40  comprising a first coil  10  generating a magnetic field at an approximately right angle to the incoming trajectory  12  of the payload  14 . With this configuration, the trajectory  12  of the payload  14  can be bent or turned to a more desirable direction. The payload  14  passes across the opening  20  of the first coil  10 , oriented so that its magnetic field pulls the payload  14  toward the coil  10  so as to change the trajectory  12  of the payload  14 . Anticipating this effect, a second coil  10  is favorably positioned so that it further bends the payload trajectory  12 . By using a sufficiently large individual coil  10  or an appropriate number of smaller coils  10 , an incoming payload  14  can be shifted through a turn of any desired amount. As evident from  FIG. 7 , the axes of the coils  10  are aligned as radii of a circle, the trajectory  12  lies along the radially-outward ends of the coils  10 , and the magnetic fields of the coils  10  pull the payload  14  toward the coils  10 . Alternatively, the trajectory  12  could lie along the radially-inward side of the coils  10 , such that the magnetic fields cooperate to push the payload  14  away from the coils  10 . For example,  FIG. 8  represents deflecting a payload  14  through a rotation to not only align the payload  14  with a desired orbit, but to also draw kinetic energy from the payload  14  and thereby reduce its speed. Instead of being aligned in a circular arrangement, the axes of the coils  10  could be aligned as radii of a spiral. Such a configuration is represented in  FIG. 8 , which shows the payload trajectory  12  as being bent through 450 degrees with six coils  10 . It is foreseeable that any number of coils  10  could be employed to bend the trajectory of a payload through essentially any curvilinear path. 
   Various types of payloads  14  can be maneuvered in the manners represented in the Figures. By configuring the payload  14  to hold a static electric charge, its trajectory  12  is bent through the Lorentz force
 
F=qvXB
 
where v is the velocity vector of the charged body, B is the magnetic field tensor, and X is the cross product operator that acts at right angles to two vectors: the electric charge q and the vector with the direction of the force F. Using the Lorentz force on a charged payload, or similarly by using just magnetic force on a ferrous or electromagnetic payload, the direction of the payload&#39;s trajectory  12  can be altered with relatively small amounts of kinetic energy change. This can be used to great advantage in a certain configuration of orbital transfer. For example, consider again the Moon launch scenario of  FIG. 3  and an alternative scenario depicted in  FIG. 9 . In the latter scenario, a payload launcher on the Moon  24  has aimed the payload  14  such that the payload  14  arrives at some angle to a desired orbit, here depicted as the GEO  26 . In this case, orbital transfer involves redirecting the trajectory  12  of the payload  14  to align with GEO  26 . As depicted in  FIG. 9 , the launch from the Moon  24  is realigned to GEO  26  with, for example, an apparatus  40  of the type depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , whose coils (not shown) induce a significant bend in the velocity vector arrow  12  just prior to encountering GEO  26 . This capture scheme can be extended in the general case to nearly any angle. This configuration is very energy efficient, as there is very little wasted energy. By setting the Moon launch velocity equal to, or slightly greater than, the orbital velocity at GEO, bending the trajectory with the Lorentz velocity deflection technique as represented in  FIG. 9  can be used to bring a payload  14  into precise geosynchronous orbit. This capture scheme, though represented as occurring at ninety degrees, can be greater or less than ninety degrees by a sizeable amount. However, for simplicity of visualization and distinction from the scheme represented in  FIG. 3 , the scheme represented in  FIG. 9  can be generally considered a perpendicular arrival of the payload  14  at the target orbit, and then a right-angle bend to adjust the trajectory  12 .
 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  schematically depict a control system  42  and components for performing payload deflection with an apparatus  40  of the type represented in  FIGS. 7 through 9 . Together, the control system  42  and components preferably provide a wireless control system and feedback loop for minimizing errors and for on-the-fly modifications and/or adjustments to accommodate individual payload differences in momentum, velocity, and even material properties. Considering for simplicity a single coil  10 , a payload velocity and position sensor  44  is positioned along and near the intended trajectory  12  of the payload  14  and a coil field sensor  46  is positioned near the coil  10  to provide instant feedback for control circuits  48  of the control system  42 . The control circuits  48  make minor adjustments to the attitude control of the coil  10 , or the current profile through the coil  10 , or the position of a subsequent coil (not shown), as may be appropriate. Information  50  from the launch can be used to preposition the coil  10 , sensors  44  and  46 , and other equipment and preset the control parameters to nominal values. However, through rapid processing, further fine-tuning adjustments can be made dynamically and possibly in real-time, thereby increasing the control over the final trajectory  12 . 
   While embodiments of the present invention described herein include examples of payload catchers and general orbital transfers, the principles of the invention can be applied to further applications, making the invention a versatile and important space technology. For example, through the use of multiple coils  10  or coil assemblages  28 , acceleration and deceleration forces can be minimized, making this technology suitable for human transportation. A series of such coils  10  (or coil assemblages  28 ) could be used to accelerate and decelerate many types of payloads, vessels, vehicles, and other cargo. Energy efficiency is enhanced by the ability to store electrical power, and versatility is provided by the current control and attitude thrusters. Thus, a collection of these apparatuses could be used to distribute a wide range of traffic throughout a large region of space. Both payload cargo or manned vessels could be processed using the same equipment. Inter-orbital transfers with modest delta-v requirements could be handled exclusively through electromagnetic acceleration and deceleration. A given installation could even be modified, merely by repositioning the apparatus, to operate either in the ID configuration ( FIGS. 1 through 3 ) or Lorentz force configuration ( FIGS. 7 through 10 ). 
   The rapidity with which the coils  10  can be readied for a subsequent payload operation is dependent upon many factors, such as the available storage capacity and the power-generating capability of solar cells, plus the efficiency by which kinetic energy of motion is transferred to electrical energy and vice versa. As represented in the Figures, a multitude of configurations are envisioned for the coils  10 , e.g., a linear arrangement where a payload is accelerated and decelerated along a substantially linear line, or a collection of coils in a spiral with the intent of reducing and re-directing the velocity of a payload. A combination of linear and circular motion might also be used to provide certain advantages not realized with either configuration alone. 
   The coil configurations represented in the Figures depict only one of several geometries of wire that give rise to a magnetic field suitable for carrying out the invention. Even a single loop, whether circular, oval, or in the shape of a polygon generates a magnetic field. Simple coils are an especially efficient way to increase the magnetic field for a given current, though it may be found advantageous to vary the area of the coils along their length. For example, a tapered cylinder (conical section) might provide good performance in bringing a moving projectile quickly and accurately to a specific point of zero relative velocity. 
   In view of the above, the present invention provides apparatuses and methods for altering the velocity and/or trajectory of an object carrying an electric charge, an adjustable or permanent magnetic field, or a magnetizable material (such as iron) in zero or low-gravity environments. The coils that perform these functions can be arrayed in a linear or a curvilinear fashion, and operated inductively or using Lorentz forces, depending on the desired performance requirements. In the general case, an apparatus in accordance with the invention may have an alternating or repeating operating pattern in which both linear deceleration and path deflection are performed, so that speed can be reduced and velocity direction redirected as desired. Control circuitry, guided by suitable sensors, can be used to adjust and adapt the attitude and current profiles of the coils to optimally modify the desired final velocity of a payload. Energy stored that may be gained from a previous capture or deflection can be supplemented with solar cell power to provide the coil current needed to capture or deflect the next object. These coils can be used within a large range of power levels to decelerate, redirect and even accelerate objects, making this a general purpose orbital transfer technology superior in many ways to rocketry. Advantages in efficiency, control, flexible design, and low-maintenance operation make this invention highly desirable for use in a thriving cislunar economy and a foundation for transportation and commerce in outer space. 
   While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1