Researchers Develop System to Test Magnetic Braking for Spacecraft Reentry

Tokyo Metropolitan University researchers have engineered a novel system to test magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) aerobraking, a technology using magnetic fields to slow spacecraft during high-speed atmospheric reentry. This system employs a powerful electromagnet within a small model, generating intense magnetic fields for brief periods. It enables testing the interaction of a shockwave, traveling over seven kilometers per second, with the magnetic field, advancing core technology for future space missions.