This report discusses the development program for the LES-8/9 flight pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs); in particular: (1) the testing of PPT electronic components, (2) the changes made in the electronic circuitry as a consequence of thruster operation, (3) the testing of flight PPTs, and (4) the integration of PPTs to the LES-8/9 satellites. As a result of a series of problems in the PPT electronics the thrusters were eventually replaced on LES-8/9 by a cold ammonia gas system. Work continued, however, and ultimately the PPT system was proven flightworthy by successfully completing the thruster ground test program.
The MIT Lincoln Laboratory Pulsed Plasma Thruster
1976
9 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Electric & Ion Propulsion , Unmanned Spacecraft , Plasma devices , Thrusters , Communication satellites , Electromagnetic pulses , Flight testing , Development tests , Electronic equipment , Circuits , Integrated systems , Ammonia , Gas generating systems , Conferences , Capacitors , Life tests , LES-8 satellite , LES-9 satellite , Pulsed plasma thrusters
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998
|AIAA | 1998
|NTIS | 1999
|Pulsed Plasma Thruster Technology
NTRS | 1996
Pulsed Plasma Thruster Technology
NTIS | 1996