The Air Force Research Laboratory's In-Space Propulsion Program

Abstract

The Air Force Research Laboratory's In-Space Propulsion Branch (AFRL/RQRS) has primary responsibility for development and maturation of spacecraft propulsion technologies in support of future Air Force missions. AFRL has active research programs in both advanced chemical propulsion and electric propulsion. Advanced chemical propulsion programs are developing thrusters that operate on a class of non-toxic, energetic propellants that offer performance surpassing that of state-of-the-art hydrazine systems. AFRL's electric propulsion efforts are focused on sustainment of Hall effect thruster technology and development of higher-performing, lower-mass alternatives such as electrosprays and field reverse configuration thrusters. Fundamental relations showing the influence of key technology metrics such as mass and specific impulse on mission-level performance are presented to illustrate the rationale behind AFRL's technology development strategy.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2015
Accession Number
ADA622305

Entities

People

  • Brian Beal

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Engineers
  • Hall Effect
  • Hall Thrusters
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Military Research
  • Propellants
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Rocket Engines
  • Rocket Propulsion
  • Space Propulsion
  • Spacecraft
  • Specific Impulse
  • Thrust
  • Thrusters

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Aerospace Research.
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster