A thrust vectoring system (140, figure 1), 340 for a plasma thruster, comprising a plurality of aligned coils (160), 360 configured to be proximal to a plasma source. The aligned coils receive an electric current, generating a magnetic nozzle (190) to direct plasma from the plasma source to create thrust. At least one steering coil (175), 375, 385 receives an electric current to generate a steering magnetic field, deflecting the plasma. A controller (150) controls direction and magnitude of current through the at least one steering coil, adjusting direction and magnitude of plasma deflection to control the direction and/or magnitude of the thrust from the plasma source. A method of vectoring thrust from a plasma thruster comprises generating a magnetic nozzle to direct plasma in a first direction, generating a steering magnetic field in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and adjusting the magnitude and direction of the generated steering magnetic field to adjust the magnitude and direction of the deflection of the plasma.
Thrust vectoring system
2023-02-08
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
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