Completely Magnetically Contained Electrothermal Thrusters.
Abstract
Conceptual designs of potentially attractive high-performance thrusters are defined. These are a kw steady-state radiation-cooled DC thruster and a MW quasi-steady DC thruster. These thrusters offer the potential for long operating life with low erosion rates and 50 to 100% improvements in performance over prior plasma thrusters. The kw thruster would be a prototype of a radiation-cooled electric thruster for future electric propulsion missions. The MW thruster would be an inexpensive experiment to define the potential of subsequent very-high power, steady-state thrusters which would utilize superconducting magnets. The kw thruster would use xenon propellent and the MW thruster would use argon propellent. Both should operate at efficiencies of 50 to 80% in the 2500 to 3000 second specific impulse range. Keywords include: Electric propulsion; Plasma, Electrothermal, and MPD thrusters.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 05, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA185674
Entities
People
- Clifford V. Franks
- George R. Seikel