Direct thrust measurements of an electron cyclotron resonance plasma thruster are performed with a thrust balance. The thruster performances are deduced, and the influence of power and mass-flow rate is studied. The measured thrust is around 1 mN for 50 W of microwave power input and 0.1    mg / s of xenon, corresponding to 1000 s of specific impulse and 11% of total efficiency. It is found that the thrust is increased by 25% when the walls of the plasma source are covered with a dielectric layer. Comparisons are made between the direct thrust measurements and the indirect thrust measurements obtained with electrostatic probes in the plasma beam.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Direct Thrust Measurement of an Electron Cyclotron Resonance Plasma Thruster


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2018-07-16


    Size :

    11 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) Plasma Thruster Research

    Takao, Y. / Noutsuka, T. / Mori, Y. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000



    Miniature Cyclotron Resonance Thruster

    Diamant, Kevin / Albright, Thomas / Zeigler, Byron et al. | AIAA | 2011


    Electronegative Gas Thruster - Direct Thrust Measurement Project

    Dankanich, John / Aanesland, Ane / Polzin, Kurt et al. | NTRS | 2015


    Electronegative Gas Thruster - Direct Thrust Measurement Project

    J. Dankanich / A. Aanesland / K. Polzin et al. | NTIS | 2015