electrodeless plasma propulsion for a wide variety of space applications. These ... thrusters, and helicon-electron cyclotron resonance acceleration thrusters. ... The use of an additional applied magnetic field and the use of hydrogen ...
NASA Website
Hydroforming matched grids for an accelerator system of an ion thruster is described. The accelerator grid is stretched prior to hydroforming so that the center-to-center spacing of the whole array in the accelerator grid is larger than the screen grid. S...
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
To dispose of long-lived fission products (LLFPs) into outer space, an ions thruster can be used instead of a static accelerator. The specifications of the ions thrusters which are presently studied for space propulsion are presented, and their usability discussed. Using of a rocket with an ...
Energy Citations Database
To dispose of long-lived fission products (LLFPs) into outer space, an ions thruster can be used instead of a static accelerator. The specifications of the ions thrusters which are presently studies for space propulsion are presented, and their usability discussed. Using of a rocket with an ...
DOE Information Bridge
Regardless of the power source, deep space missions will require both high specific impulse (greater
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Two and three-grid accelerator systems for high power ion thruster operation were investigated. Two-grid translation tests show that over compensation of the 30 cm thruster SHAG grid set spacing the 30 cm thruster radial plasma density variation and by in...
Hall thrusters provide efficient space propulsion by electrostatic acceleration of ions. Rotating electron clouds in the thruster overcome the space charge limitations of other methods. Images of the thruster startup, taken with a fast camera, reveal a bright ionization ...
Hall thrusters are widely used as space electric propulsion devices. Due to the complex plasma phenomenon and high computation cost, currently it is difficult to fully simulate the real physical process in Hall thrusters. Recently, Szabo and Taccogna have proposed two different methods to simplify and accelerate ...
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
The use of permanent magnets instead of electromagnet coils for Hall thrusters can be advantageous for low power space applications. The plasma measurements revealed that the miniaturized cylindrical Hall thrusters with permanent magnets and electromagnet coils operate rather differently. In particular, the ion current density ...
The response of a miniature electrostatic accelerometer (MESA) to the structural vibrations of a space vehicle (SV) is determined analytically. Knowledge of these vibration-induced accelerations will be used to interpret the total MESA accelerations that ...
A Hamiltonian formulation of the MHD plasma flow equations in terms of noncanonical variables is briefly discussed for the case of stationary axisymmetric configurations. This formulation makes it possible to cast these flow equations in a variational form with mixed (closed and/or open) boundary conditions. Within this framework the modelling of the acceleration channel of an ...
The cylindrical Hall thruster (CHT) is an attractive approach to achieve a long lifetime thruster operation especially in low power space applications. Because of the larger volume-to-surface ratio than conventional coaxial Hall thrusters, the cylindrical Hall thrusters are characterized by a ...
Research and development was performed on the generation and acceleration of charged particles toward the ultimate development of a colloid thruster. Standard and specialized laboratory techniques were used to construct and test thruster components. Parti...
... Colloid thrusters operate by electrostatically accelerating charged droplets ... capable of providing a high degree of ... Life tests of the ST7 thrusters have ...
DTIC Science & Technology
A fundamental study of a newly developed rectangular pulsed laser-electromagnetic hybrid thruster was conducted. Laser-ablation plasma in the thruster was induced through laser beam irradiation onto a solid target and accelerated by electrical means instead of direct acceleration only by using a laser beam. The ...
erosion are essential tools for the development of ion thrusters to meet the demand for higher ... this erosion. Designing the ion accelerator systems to ...
The thruster, called the Microwave Assisted Discharge Inductive Plasma. Accelerator (MAD-IPA), is shown in Fig. 1. A static magnetic field in the thruster ...
Jul 20, 2005... and helicon-electron cyclotron resonance acceleration thrusters. ... The self-field baseline magnetoplasmadynamic thruster has been tested with argon ... Electric propulsion thrusters either currently in use or near ...
The design of ion optics for bombardment thrusters strongly influences overall performance and lifetime. The operation of a 30 cm thruster with accelerator grid open area fractions ranging from 43 to 24 percent, was evaluated and compared with experimenta...
Thirteen sets of dished accelerator grids were treated on five different 30 cm diameter bombardment thrusters to evaluate the effects of grid geometry variations on thruster discharge chamber performance. The dished grid parameters varied were: grid-to-gr...
Hall thrusters, a type of space electric propulsion, offer high specific impulses attractive for a variety of space missions. As lifetime requirements desired for Hall thruster operations increase, there is a greater need to be able to predict and analyze the wear of the thruster over time. The ...
Plasma thrusters are known to have some advantages like high specific impulse. Electric propulsion is already recognized as a successful technology for long duration space missions. It has been used as primary propulsion system on earth-moon orbit trnsfer missions, comets and asteroids exploration and on commercially geosyncronous satellite attitude ...
the NASA's Solar Electric Propulsion Application Readiness (NSTAR) ion thruster . This thruster operated for over. 16000 hours in space and over 30000 hours ...
The response of a miniature electrostatic accelerometer (MESA) to the structural vibrations of a space vehicle (SV) is determined analytically. Knowledge of these vibration-induced accelerations will be used to interpret the total MESA accelerations that will be obtained while the SV is in orbit. Equations of motion containing ...
Electric Propulsion Conference, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA September 20�24, 2009 A = accelerating electric field in the 1D model of a Hall thruster (HT) Bx = magnetic field in the HT acceleration on micro-turbulence in y�z plane TRSO = period of resonant sheath oscillations Vd = electron drift velocity
E-print Network
... of a Novel Plasma Thruster to Provide a Revolutionary Operationally Responsive Space Capability with Micro- and Nano-Satellites. ...
Our research includes advanced chemical rockets and propellants; electric propulsion systems including ion thrusters, pulsed plasma thrusters and Hall ...
... ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES, *THRUSTERS, *SPACE PROPULSION, *PLASMA ENGINES, LASER BEAMS, SPECIFIC IMPULSE, GLASS LASERS. ...
The primary life-limiting mechanism for state-of-the-art ion thrusters is erosion of the accelerator
... corrosive environments such as jet engines ... in a full-scale thruster and plasma number ... exposing the thruster to atmospheric pressure, while making ...
Aug 23, 2005 ... The test involved a Hall thruster built under the High Voltage Hall Accelerator ... The HiVHAC was tested in a vacuum chamber at Glenn that ...
Presented in this report is a modeling design process for a colloid micro-thruster. Topics discussed are acceleration grid effects, extractor grid effects and performance prediction and optimization.
... were measured, and plume acceleration could be ... thruster design, given its high throughput, absence ... and cathodes, potentially long life time, very ...
A fundamental study of a newly developed rectangular pulsed laser-electromagnetic hybrid thruster was conducted, in which laser-ablation plasma was induced through laser beam irradiation onto a solid target and accelerated by electrical means instead of direct acceleration only by using a laser beam. The performance of the ...
Two- and three-dimensional ion thruster optical calculations including both source and exhaust plasmas are performed. These calculations include both a self-consistent ion source extraction plasma sheath and an explicit computation of the primary ion optics including sheath and electrode induced aberrations. A study determining the effects of beam space ...
Closed electron drift plasma thrusters, also known as Hall Thrusters or SPT (Stationary Plasma Thrusters) are magnetized discharges where the ion acceleration is provided in the plasma itself by the magnetic barrier restricting electron transport. After their developments and their demonstrations on satellites for ...
This research project involves the systematic study of the MPD thruster for dual uses. Though it was designed as a thruster for space vehicles, the characteristics of the plasma make it an excellent candidate for industrial applications. This project will...
A system for supporting and selectively positioning an ion thruster relative to a surface of a spacecraft includes three angularly spaced thruster support assemblies. Each thruster support assembly includes a frame which has a rotary actuator mounted ther...
There is a need for a lightweight, low power ion thruster for space science missions. Such an ion thruster is under development at NASA Glenn Research Center. In an effort to better understand the discharge performance of this thruster. a version of this ...
There is a need for a lightweight, low power ion thruster for space science missions. Such an ion thruster is under development at NASA Glenn Research Center. In an effort to better understand the discharge performance of this thruster, a thruster dischar...
... Ion Velocity Measurements within the Acceleration Channel of a Low Power Hall Thruster ... Considerable external acceleration 16km/s 14 12 10 8 6 ...
The Electrodeless Lorentz Force (ELF) thruster is a novel type of plasma thruster, which utilizes Rotating Magnetic Field current drive within a diverging magnetic field to form, accelerate, and eject a Field Reversed Configuration plasmoid. The ELF program is a result of a Small Business Technology Transfer grant awarded to MSNW LLC ...
According to the work program and schedule there was developed the methodology of experiments on the discharge chamber material influence on the Hall thruster characteristics there was prepared Hall thruster model of the SPT- 100 type for these experiment...
Potential concepts of laser-accelerators which can be applied to the spacecraft propulsion using a conventional technique were reviewed. Maximum ion energy of order tens of MeV through the acceleration was reported in recent studies. As for a proton beam accelerated up to 58 MeV, which was achieved in a recent study, its speed ...
As the applications of Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy conversion, research and development for high-efficiency and low emission electric power generation system, MHD accelerations and/or MHD thrusters, and flow control around hypersonic and re-entry vehicles are introduced. For closed cycle MHD power generation, high-efficiency MHD single system is the ...
A malfunctioning orbital flight attitude thruster during the flight of Gemini VIII led to acceleration forces on astronauts Neil Armstrong (commander) and David Scott (pilot) that created the potential for derogation of oculo-vestibular and eye-hand coordination effects. The spacecraft attained an axial tumbling rotation of 50 rpm and would have exceeded ...
PubMed
The cylindrical Hall thruster features high ionization efficiency, quiet operation, and ion acceleration in a large volume-to-surface ratio channel with performance comparable with the state-of-the-art annular Hall thrusters. These characteristics were demonstrated in low and medium power ranges. Optimization of miniaturized ...
Laboratory high voltage solar arrays were operated directly connected to power the beam and accelerator loads of an 8-centimeter ion thruster. The beam array comprised conventional 2 by 2 centimeter solar cells; the accelerator array comprised multiple junction edge-illuminated solar cells. Conventional laboratory power supplies ...
Ion thruster total impulse capability is limited, in part, by accelerator grid sputter erosion. A development effort was initiated to identify a material with a lower accelerator grid volumetric sputter erosion rate than molybdenum, but that could utilize...
The acceleration of the plasma in the Hall thruster to supersonic velocities is examined by the use of a steady state model. Flows that are smooth across the sonic transition plane are found. The possibility of generating flows in which the acceleration across the sonic plane is abrupt, is also studied.
Accelerator grid sputter erosion resulting from charge-exchange-ion impingement is considered to be a primary cause of failure for electrostatic ion thrusters. An experimental method was developed and implemented to measure erosion characteristics of ion-...
The Deep Space 1 (DSl) spare flight thruster (FT2) was operated for 30,352 hours during the extended
A Space Shuttle Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster failed during a firing test at the NASA White
Sep 3, 2010 ... Specifically, the Air Force is interested in liquid thrusters for in-space propulsion and the Army is interested in the development of green ...
Marshall Space Flight Center. Presented at the Advanced Space Propulsion ... Ion Cyclotron Resonance (ICR). Pulsed Plasmoid Thruster. Field Reversed ...
Page 1. AD-759 290 ADVANCED ELECTRIC THRUSTER (A SPACE ELECTRIC RAMJET) ... lei charge on the electron E electric field strength ...
Propulsive performance and erosion behavior of accelerator nozzle operating as short pulse discharge
A propulsion system is proposed that is based on acceleration of ions emitted from a thin, solid-state electrochemical ceramic membrane. ...
burns to form hot gaseous reaction products that are accelerated via the throat and nozzle assembly ..... Ride, S.K.: Leadership and America's. Future in. Space . NASA TM-89638, .... Senneff, J.M.; and Richter, G.P.: A Long-Life ..... AIAA Paper 78-677, Apr. 1978. (also NASA TM-78850). Magnetoplasmadynamic. Thruster ...
This report provides an overview of the present state and the problem areas of magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) space-propulsion devices and systems potentially suitable for orbit raising and maneuvering of large space structures, i.e., thrust and power levels of presently most-promising steady (or quasisteady pulsed) thruster types, ...
The results are reported of a test program conducted on the Space Shuttle Primary Reaction Control Subsystem thruster in order to investigate the effects of trapped helium bubbles and saturated propellants on stability, determine if thruster-to-thruster stability variations are significant, and determine stability under ...
The Hall-effect thruster (HET) is an advanced spacecraft propulsion system that uses electrical power provided by the spacecraft to generate thrust by ionizing and accelerating propellant to high velocities. HETs are now used in earth orbit for satellite propulsion and are being considered for a variety of missions in deep space. While ...
This paper describes the current development of a high-power microwave electrothermal thruster (MET) concept at the NASA Lewis Research Center. Such a thruster would be employed in space for applications such as orbit raining, orbit maneuvering, station c...
The suitability of the baseline 30 cm thruster for future space missions was examined. Preliminary design concepts for several advanced thrusters were developed to assess the potential practical difficulties of a new design. Useful methodologies were prod...
The cylindrical thruster differs significantly in its underlying physical mechanisms from the conventional annular Hall thruster. It features high ionization efficiency, quiet operation, ion acceleration in a large volume-to-surface ratio channel, and performance comparable with the state-of-the-art conventional Hall ...
The Velocity Distribution Function (VDF) of metastable Xe{sup +} ions was measured along the channel axis of the 5 kW-class PPS registered X000 Hall effect thruster by means of Laser Induced Fluorescence spectroscopy at 834.72 nm for various voltages, magnetic fields and mass flow rates. Axial velocity and dispersion profiles are compared to on-axis profiles obtained with the ...
The Velocity Distribution Function (VDF) of metastable Xe+ ions was measured along the channel axis of the 5 kW-class PPS�X000 Hall effect thruster by means of Laser Induced Fluorescence spectroscopy at 834.72 nm for various voltages, magnetic fields and mass flow rates. Axial velocity and dispersion profiles are compared to on-axis profiles obtained with the 1.5 kW-class ...
NASA�s In-space Propulsion Technology Project is developing new propulsion technologies that can enable or enhance near and mid-term NASA science missions. The solar electric propulsion technology area has been investing in NASA�s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT), the High Voltage Hall Accelerator (HiVHAC), lightweight reliable ...
Earlier conceptual design studies (Bussard, 1990; Miley et al., 1998; Burton et al., 2003) have described Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) fusion propulsion to provide a high-power density fusion propulsion system capable of aggressive deep space missions. However, this requires large multi-GW thrusters and a long term development program. As a ...
The Hall current plasma thruster accelerates a plasma jet by an axial electric field and an applied radial magnetic field in an annular channel. The working gas, entering the channel at the anode end, is ionized by the discharge. The role of the magnetic field is to reduce the axial mobility of electrons. The electric field then ...
... Descriptors : *LASERS, *THRUSTERS, *LAUNCH VEHICLES, *SPACE ... SYSTEMS, PHOTONS, LASER BEAMS, SPACE ENVIRONMENTS. ...
Heaterless inert gas ion thruster hollow cathodes were investigated with the aim of reducing ion thruster complexity and increasing ion thruster reliability. Cathodes heated by glow discharges are evaluated for power requirements, flowrate requirements, and life limiting mechanisms. An accelerated cyclic life test ...
Electron-wall interaction effects in Hall thrusters are studied through measurements of the plasma response to variations of the thruster channel width and the discharge voltage. The discharge voltage threshold is shown to separate two thruster regimes. Below this threshold, the electron energy gain is constant in the ...
... charges the main thruster capacitor and "arms ... This latter discharge depolymerizes and energizes the ... assembly and then discharged Into space. ...
... SPACE PROPULSION, *RESISTORJET ENGINES, TEST AND ... SATELLITES, SAFETY, LIQUID PROPELLANTS, PROPELLANT TANKS. ...
