A High Thrust Density, C60 Cluster, Ion Thruster
Abstract
A C60 fullerene ion thruster represents a major advance in the evolution of electrostatic propulsion. It could provide up to a factor of 30 increase in thrust density over Xe thruster as well as simultaneous reduction of relative losses by a factor of 5.5. Its basic feasibility has been experimentally verified during the Phase I program. Vaporization and discharge chambers as well as simple acceleration grid were designed and constructed. A set of unique experiments were performed which demonstrated: (1) controllable fullerene vapor generation, (2) stable discharge at approximately 190 volts using 2% thoriated tungsten cathode filament, (3) fullerene acceleration with beam ion energy cost of about 900 to 1000 eV/beam ion at a mass utilization of 70%, (4) no detectable fullerene fragmentation due to vaporization, ionization and acceleration, (5) fullerenes in a highly diffused molecular beam were not detected by FTIR spectroscopy, (6) SST, Mo, BN, AlN, Al203 and quartz do not react with fullerene vapor during limited exposure, and (7) spacecraft contamination by fullerene thruster effluent is comparable to that predicted for lithium. Methods to reduce it were identified. Fullerene, Ion thruster, Ion fuel, C60, Electric propulsion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 28, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA264405
Entities
People
- V. J. Hruby