🛰 "Cannibal Satellites" Will Feed on Space Debris
The British startup Magdrive has developed the Warlock space engine, which operates on solid metal instead of gas. The developers hope it will address key challenges in space exploration and clean up Earth's orbit by literally "eating" old satellites.
Currently, astronautics use two main engine types: ion (electric) and chemical. In ion propulsion systems, charged gas particles are accelerated using an electric field while chemical engines burn fuel.
"A chemical engine has very high thrust, but its efficiency—or 'miles per gallon'—is very poor. On the other hand, electric systems have the opposite characteristics: very low thrust but excellent efficiency. The Warlock engine combines the best of both worlds," explains Magdrive founder Mark Stokes.
The Warlock engine will use accelerated ions of solid metal, such as copper. Solid fuel is significantly more compact than traditional propellants while still providing high thrust.
A key advantage of this engine is the ability to refuel directly in space. The developers hope that in the future, Warlock will be able to use space debris as a source of energy, primarily focusing on decommissioned satellites.
🛰 Major Challenges for the Technology
According to Minkwan Kim, a lecturer in astronautics at the University of Southampton, capturing space debris may become a significant obstacle for the project. Decommissioned satellites are uncontrollable and extremely difficult to catch. Advanced maneuvering systems will be required, but such technologies are still in their infancy.
Additionally, every satellite belongs to someone—whether governments, universities, or private companies. This means that Magdrive will need to obtain permission from its owner before consuming any satellite.
Nevertheless, Magdrive remains optimistic and believes its technology will solve the problem of space debris. According to the European Space Agency, humanity has launched around 19,500 satellites into Earth's orbit over the course of its space exploration history. NASA's model (as shown in a video ⤴️) vividly illustrates how cluttered Earth's orbit has become.
Magdrive plans to launch its first prototype in June 2025. The test device will operate on preloaded solid metal fuel.
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