Metal-fueled rockets are one type of the ion engine. Or they use the same method to create thrust as ion engines. The metal rocket uses metal vapor that the magnets drive backward. In space or inside the asteroid belt the system can get its energy from large solar panels. And outside the asteroid belt, the miniature nuclear reactor can give electricity to that system.
In that kind of system, the long solar panels can also be used as a cooling system for the nuclear reactor. The metal engine can also use another material that it vaporizes. The metal engine can use magnetic metals as neutral atoms, which it drives through the acceleration track. But it can use ions and also things like water or hydrocarbons. In the last cases, the system ionizes material that travels through its acceleration track.
Or it just raises the material temperature to make it expand. In those systems, the electric arc or some other electromagnetic radiation replaces combustion and causes the expansion of the fuel.
The idea is that the laser or microwave systems vaporize metal powder, and then a magnetic accelerator drives that high-temperature metal vapor through the acceleration track. The laser system can shoot its beam through that metal vapor to increase its speed and thrust. The metal vapor can also used in "normal rockets". The system must only vaporize metal in the "combustion chamber" or this case expansion chamber.
Can this kind of rocket travel to space from launchpads on Earth?
The expansion of the metal vapor causes a similar effect to burning fuel. The system can pump the air to that chamber to increase thrust and keep the temperature low. In some theoretical versions, the system uses metal wire that feeds into the burning or expansion chamber. The laser, electric arcs, and/ or, microwaves will vaporize that metal. Then the system injects things like liquid gas into this heated metal wire.
And the only problem is the power source. The electric vaporization system requires energy. In some crazy ideas, the system uses a laser that is installed in the launching pad. Then that laser will be shot into the combustion chamber. The wireless electric transfer system will transport energy to the rocket using coherent radio waves.
The opposite operating engine.
In some cases, there are discussions about the metal vapor or metal ion engines that blow particle flow forward. The idea is "stolen" from the cartoons, where the hero blows air to sails using a propeller or bellows. The ion or magnetic system blows particles into the shield or "sail" ahead of that craft.
The idea is that the system can fix the ion engine's weak thrust. In some cases, there are plans to use steam. That is created from hydrocarbons or water ice. The metal engine requires a higher temperature, but the system works with a similar principle. It vaporizes metal that acts like a propellant in other rockets.
https://scitechdaily.com/revolutionary-metal-fueled-rockets-promise-infinite-space-journeys/
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