The USAF Electric Propulsion Program

Abstract

An overview of the current state of electric propulsion technology development efforts within the United States Air Force is presented. Air Force Mission Needs Statements which call for electric propulsion are likewise discussed. Two groups within the Air Force Research Laboratory contribute to the electric propulsion program: Propulsion Directorate and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). The Propulsion Directorate is conducting electric propulsion efforts in basic research. engineering development as well as an Advanced Technology Development effort that will result in a space flight experiment of a 30 kilowatt arcjet system. AFOSR funds basic research in electric propulsion throughout the country in both academia and industry.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA407980

Entities

People

  • M. Birkan
  • R. A. Spores

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Astronautics
  • Electric Power
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Engineers
  • Hall Thrusters
  • Measurement
  • Payload
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Reconnaissance Satellites
  • Satellite Buses
  • Small Satellites
  • Space Objects
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Orbits

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Academic Conference Management
  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster