THRUST MEASUREMENT FOR A PULSED INDUCTIVE THRUSTER,
Abstract
There are many system advantages related to a pulsed inductive thruster. The use of a coil in place of electrodes allows the entire thruster system to be operated at atmospheric pressure during system integration and verification testing and during launch pad operations. Also, the coil automatically matches the low plasma impedance to the high impedance needed for high voltage energy storage capacitors. This eliminates the need for a pulse transformer as is required by a high-power quasi-steady MPD arc. It also eliminates the need for the bias-field magnet that is used to increase the load impedance of a low-power, steady, MPD arc. In the inductive geometry the magnetic forces eject the plasma away from the thruster so that heating and erosion are less severe than in an electrode device. The inherently short pulse duration of this thruster has two application advantages: it meets the intermittent thrust requirements for spinning satellites and a wide range of thrust control is achieved by changing valve injection pressure and repetition rate. With respect to development and reliability testing, the pulsed character is useful in that accelerated life testing is feasible. The direct measurements of thrust, reported here, were made to assess the possible usefulness of the pulsed inductive thruster. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 21, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0702498
Entities
People
- C. L. Dailey
Organizations
- TRW Inc.