An Investigation of a Combined Discharge Triggering and Propellant Injection System for Use in a Rail Thruster.
Abstract
An investigation into the behaviour of a combined triggering and propellant injection system for use in a pulsed plasma rail thruster, operating on mercury, is described. The thruster is intended to produce a mean force of .0005 N, controllable by altering the pulse repetition frequency, and is triggered by a discharge from a tungsten pin to a nearby mercury meniscus. It was found that this system was adequate for experimental work, but insufficiently reliable for operational use: some alternative triggering systems are also described. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0728265
Entities
People
- D. G. Fearn
- T. J. Punter
Organizations
- Royal Aircraft Establishment