The thruster component of the Ascendant Sub-kW Transcelestial Electric Propulsion System successfully completed a propellant throughput demonstration of 50 kg Xe. The thruster was operated for a total of 3,287 h, of which 97.9% was spent at 300 V – 1000 W, and generated 790 kN-s of total impulse. Thrust, telemetry, and temperature measurements periodically recorded at four operating conditions spanning 200 – 500 V and 200 – 1000 W revealed constant performance across the full test duration. High-fidelity plasma simulations of the erosion of the thruster’s downstream faces suggest a theoretical lifetime capability of >30 kh, corresponding to propellant throughput of >450 kg Xe and a total impulse of >7 MNs, at the 300 V – 1000 W operating condition. The test was voluntarily paused after 50 kg Xe throughput to take these erosion measurements before the test was resumed at a different operating condition.
Long-Duration Wear Testing of the ASTRAEUS Thruster, Phase I: 50 kg Xe Throughput
2021-03-17
Preprint
Keine Angabe
Englisch
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