An Overview of the On-Orbit Results from the Electric Propulsion Space Experiment (ESEX)

Abstract

The United States Air Force (USAF) Research Laboratory's Electric Propulsion Space Experiment (ESEX) was launched and successfully operated - demonstrating the compatibility and readiness of a 26 kW ammonia arcjet subsystem for satellite applications. ESEX is one of nine experiments on the USAF's Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS). Data were acquired to characterize the thruster in four different areas: electromagnetic interactions, contamination effects, optical properties of the plume, and thruster system performance. The results demonstrated that the critical system components (including the arcjet, power processor, and propellant system) operated well, and verified the interoperability of high power electric propulsion with generic satellite operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 02, 2001
Accession Number
ADA405916

Entities

People

  • D. R. Bromaghim
  • G. G. Spanjers
  • J. M. Fife
  • J. R. Leduc
  • R. M. Salasovich

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Battery Chargers
  • Control Systems
  • Detectors
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Ground Based
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Measurement
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Solar Cells
  • Solar Panels
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Orbits
  • Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Software Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Satellites