Basic Research in Electric Propulsion. Part I: Pulsed Plasma Thruster Propellant Efficiency and Contamination. Part II: Arcjet Remote Plume Measurement and Hydrogen Density
Abstract
Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPT) have been the major technology under investigation for the Small Satellite Electric Propulsion Thruster Research program. Arcjet technology is also under investigation with Electric Propulsion Space Experiment Optical Signature experiments underway and Multiphoton Laser Induced Fluorescence Measurements of Ground State Atomic Hydrogen have been performed in an arcjet plume. At present PPTs are being tested in the laboratory environment with investigations under way to determine exact inefficiency mechanisms that can be corrected. This work has already identified previously unknown physical behavior in the PPT. The Electric Propulsion Space Experiment is a flight demonstration of a 30 kW ammonia arcjet propulsion system. Optical measurements of the arcjet plume were performed using on-board optical equipment ground observatories and other space platforms. Low power arcjet technology provided definitive work on atomic species plume concentrations in low power hydrogen arcjet plumes. This work applied a flame diagnostic Multiphoton Laser Induced Fluorescence to the excited-state plasma environment to investigate concentration levels of atomic ground-state hydrogen.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA408488
Entities
People
- G. G. Spanjers
- I. J. Wysong
- J. A. Pobst
- J. B. Malak