Direct current arcjets have the potential to provide specific impulses of more than 500 sec with storable propellants, and of more than 1000 sec with hydrogen. This level of performance can provide significant benefits for such applications as orbit transfer, station keeping, orbit change, and manoeuvering. The simplicity of the arcjet system and its elements of commonality with state-of-the-art resistojet systems offer a relatively low risk transition to these enhanced levels of performance for low power (0.5 to 1.5 kW) station keeping applications. Arjcets at power levels of 10 to 30 kW are potentially applicable to orbit transfer missions. Furthermore, with the anticipated development of space nuclear power systems, arcjets at greater than 100 kW may become attractive. This paper describes the ongoing NASA/USAF program and describes major recent accomplishments.
The NASA/USAF arcjet research and technology program
Das Lichtbogenstrahl-Forschungs- und Technologieprogramm von NASA und USAF
AIAA-Papers ; Jul ; 1-19
1987
19 Seiten, 13 Bilder, 40 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
The NASA/USAF arcjet research and technology program
AIAA | 1987
|Joint USAF-NASA Flight Research Program Directive
NTIS | 2022
|Joint USAF NASA XB-70 Flight Research Program
NTIS | 1965
|Arcjet thruster research and technology
NTRS | 1988
|Joint USAF/Nasa Hypersonic Research Aircraft Study
NTRS | 1975
|