An Evaluation of Electric and Hydrazine Propulsion Systems for Orbit Maintenance
Abstract
The report presents an evaluation of electric propulsion systems capable of providing thrust to counteract drag action on a certain satellite in a low earth orbit. The orbit maintenance system is required to produce an average thrust of 1.6 fixed mass pounds over a mission duration of up to 2 years. Five candidate systems were studied, they include: a cesium bombardment ionization thruster, a mercury bombardment ionization thruster, a colloid thruster, a hydrazine resistojet, and, as a standard of comparison, a monopropellant hydrazine thruster (not electric). These propulsion devices were evaluated for two spacecraft configurations, one with a solar cell/battery power system, and the other with a reactor/thermoelectric power system. The preferred system for either spacecraft configuration is the monopropellant hydrazine system because of its low cost and because such a system is already included on the spacecraft for orbit insertion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0729294
Entities
People
- Richard V. Silverman