Establishment of MPD Performance

Abstract

The Phillips Laboratory's Electric Propulsion Laboratory has conducted a preliminary experiment in the measurement of magnetoplasmadynamic performance for a matrix of various electrode lengths. This data was taken in a single shot pulsed mode which was quasi-steady state with regard to electrical properties. As part of the project, a total impulse stand was built which allowed the calculation of thrust, specific impulse, and thruster efficiency. Limitations in experimental equipment prevented the gathering of accurate data. The data has given general trends in MPD performance and has given a better understanding of MPD test facility requirements. The project will be absorbed into a larger, general plasma thruster development project. The knowledge gained from this project will be used to upgrade the pulsed MPD facility to gather accurate MPD thruster performance data.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA244508

Entities

People

  • Salvador Castillo

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Cold Gases
  • Efficiency
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Electrical Properties
  • Electrodes
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Engineering
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters
  • Measurement
  • Specific Impulse
  • Steady State
  • Test Facilities
  • Thrust
  • Thrusters
  • Vacuum Chambers

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster