  A new electrostatic ramjet space engine is proposed and analyzed. The upper
atmosphere (85 -1000 km) is extremely dense in ions (millions per cubic cm).
The interplanetary medium contains positive protons from the solar wind. A
charged ball collects the ions (protons) from the surrounding area and a
special electric engine accelerates the ions to achieve thrust or decelerates
the ions to achieve drag. The thrust may have a magnitude of several Newtons.
If the ions are decelerated, the engine produces a drag and generates
electrical energy. The theory of the new engine is developed. It is shown that
the proposed engine driven by a solar battery (or other energy source) can not
only support satellites in their orbit for a very long time but can also work
as a launcher of space apparatus. The latter capability includes launch to high
orbit, to the Moon, to far space, or to the Earth atmosphere (as a return
thruster for space apparatus or as a killer of space debris). The proposed
ramjet is very useful in interplanetary trips to far planets because it can
simultaneously produce thrust or drag and large electric energy using the solar
wind. Two scenarios, launch into the upper Earth atmosphere and an
interplanetary trip, are simulated and the results illustrate the excellent
possibilities of the new concept.
