Novel Air-Breathing Ion Propulsion for Space Vehicle in Low Earth Orbit
Abstract
Air breathing electric propulsion technology could give spacecraft access to the very low earth orbits (VLEO) with heights of 100 km to 250 km. These low orbits are interesting for earth observation tasks, low latency communication and have a reduced risk for space debris. This region is usually restricted for satellites because the residual atmosphere causes significant drag, which needs to be overcome with high thrust and therefore a continuous flow of propellant. This is not feasible for S/C with a finite propellant storage. Several concepts have been investigated so far which are usually based on the collection of neutral atmosphere molecules, a compression stage to increase the density and the subsequent feeding of the collected particles to an ionization and acceleration stage like a Hall-effect thruster [1], a gridded thruster [2], an RF thruster [3] or a PPT [4]. References: [1] E. Ferrato, V. Giannetti, A. Piragino, M. Andrenucci, T. Andreussi, and C. A. Paissoni, “Development Roadmap of SITAEL ’ s RAM-EP System,” 36th Int. Electr. Propuls. Conf., pp. 1–18, 2019. [2] K. Nishiyama, “Air breathing ion engine concept,” 54th Int. Astronaut. Congr. Int. Astronaut. Fed. (IAF), Int. Acad. Astronaut. Int. Inst. Sp. Law, vol. 3, no. October, pp. 383–390, 2003, doi: 10.2514/6.iac-03-s.4.02. [3] F. Romano et al., “Inductive plasma thruster (IPT) design for an atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion system (ABEP),” Proc. Int. Astronaut. Congr. IAC, vol. 2019-Octob, no. October, 2019. [4] T. Schönherr, G. Han, C. Gürbüz, H. Koizumi, and K. Komurasaki, “First Experiments Towards an Atmosphere-Breathing PPT,” Int. Electr. Propuls. Conf., p. 272, 2015. [5] J. Meyer, “Electronic structure of molybdenum-oxide films and associated charge injection mechanisms in organic devices,” J. Photonics Energy, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 011109, 2011, doi: 10.1117/1.3555081. [6] S. Ustaze, R. Verucchi, S. Lacombe, L. Guillemot, and V. A. Esaulov, “Electron Capture and Loss Processes in the Interaction of Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Fluorine Atoms and Negative Ions with a MgO(100) Surface,” Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 79, no. 18, pp. 3526–3529, Nov. 1997, doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.79.3526. [7] S. W. Kim and H. Hosono, “Synthesis and properties of 12CaO7Al2O3 electride: review of single crystal and thin film growth,” Philos. Mag., vol. 92, no. 19–21, pp. 2596–2628, Jul. 2012, doi: 10.1080/14786435.2012.685770.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 21, 2022
- Source ID
- FA86552117014XX0
Entities
People
- Martin Tajmar
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Technische Universität Dresden
- United States Air Force