30 KW Class Arcjet Advanced Technology Transition Development (ATTD)
Abstract
The Arcjet Advanced Technology Transition Demonstration (ATTD) Program developed and demonstrated a flight qualified 30 kW arcjet propulsion flight unit. Once it successfully completed qualification testing, the flight unit was integrated as the Electric Propulsion Space Experiment (ESEX) flight experiment onto the Air Force Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS). The objectives of the flight unit space test were to measure arcjet plume deposition, electromagnetic interference, thermal radiation, and performance in space. These measurements were chosen to address specific operational issues that are commonly raised for EP systems. There were a total of eight firings conducted over the course of the 60-day mission, for a total duration of 2,023 seconds. All of the demonstration aspects of the experiment were completed successfully and the arcjet, PCU, PFS and overall system operated very well. All of the data analyzed to date indicate the thruster operated nominally, and operated completely independently of the normal operations of the host spacecraft.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA388006
Entities
People
- Mary M. Kriebel