A 30 cm diameter xenon ion thruster is under development at NASA to provide an ion propulsion option for missions of national interest and it is an element of the NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Applications Readiness (NSTAR) program established to validate ion propulsion for space flight applications. The thruster has been developed to an engineering model level and it incorporates innovations in design, materials, and fabrication techniques compared to those employed to conventional ion thrusters. The performance of both functional and engineering model thrusters has been assessed including thrust stand measurements, over an input power range of 0.5-2.3 kW. Attributes of the engineering model thruster include an overall mass of 6.4 kg, and an efficiency of 65 percent and thrust of 93 mN at 2.3 kW input power. This paper discusses the design, performance, and lifetime expectations of the functional and engineering model thrusters under development at NASA.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    NASA 30 cm Ion Thruster Development Status


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1995


    Size :

    17 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    NASA 30 cm Ion Thruster Development Status

    Patterson, M. / Haag, T. / Rawlin, V. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1994


    NASA 30 Cm Ion Thruster Development Status

    Patterson, Michael J. / Haag, Thomas W. / Rawlin, Vincent K. et al. | NTRS | 1995


    NASA 30 cm ion thruster development status

    Patterson, Michael / Haag, Thomas / Rawlin, Vincent et al. | AIAA | 1994


    The Status of Laser Diagnostics Supporting Ion Thruster Development at NASA GRC

    Williams, George / Domonkos, Matthew / Ray, Sarah | AIAA | 2002


    Development Status of the NASA 30-cm Ion Thruster and Power Processor

    J. S. Sovey / T. W. Haag / J. A. Hamley et al. | NTIS | 1994