M2P2 Capabilities

• Inflation is electromagnetic--no mechanical struts

  • Balloon size depends on ambient pressure, so it expands as it moves away from Sun. ==> Constant force surface

• 10-30km diameter = 1-3 N of Solar Wind Force

  • which is 0.6 MW of Solar Wind Energy

• If payload weight were 20-100 kg, it would attain 50-80 km/s over a 3-month acceleration period.

  • Limiting speed is, of course, solar wind speed. However the balloon expands to some maximum size which limits its force as well.

Notes: