Undergrad Space docking using the Meissner effect

[YoungPhysicist]

Just a random thought: IF a strong rare Earth magnet and a superconductor like YBCO can perform meissner effect that holds them both in place, is it possible to make that in a larger scale, like in space?

I was thinking that since space's temperature is almost 0K, it can cool down superconductors without to much effort(man's effort), so a lbig rare Earth magnet and a big YBCO can be placed on two sides of spacecraft s that needs docking. Meissner effect will stick them in place. If the two spacecraft s need to come apart, they can just 1) heat up the YBCO just hot enough to lost superconductivity or 2) Just use an electromagnet from the beginning and turn it off.

Is that viable in any way?

 

[scottdave]

I'm not sure how practical that would be to hold 2 spaceships together. For one thing, to say that space is near 0 Kelvin would depend on your exposure to the Sun or another radiant heat source.

 

[YoungPhysicist]

For one thing, to say that space is near 0 Kelvin would depend on your exposure to the Sun or another radiant heat source.

Yeah, I mean like in orbit around Earth.

 

[LURCH]

Yeah, I mean like in orbit around Earth.

Temperature of space for vehicles in Low Earth Orbit can be around 120°/130° C, or around 250° F. It’s only cold in the shade.

Although the Meissner effect would work, it would be far more expensive, no more effective, and much less reliable than docking rings. ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Docking_System ). Still, I can see no reason why it couldn’t work, so long as the superconductor was kept in the shade.