The Air Force Research Laboratory's In-Space Propulsion Branch (AFRL/RQRS) has primary responsibility for development and maturation of spacecraft propulsion technologies in support of future Air Force missions. AFRL has active research programs in both advanced chemical propulsion and electric propulsion. Advanced chemical propulsion programs are developing thrusters that operate on a class of non-toxic, energetic propellants that offer performance surpassing that of state-of-the-art hydrazine systems. AFRL's electric propulsion efforts are focused on sustainment of Hall effect thruster technology and development of higher-performing, lower-mass alternatives such as electrosprays and field reverse configuration thrusters. Fundamental relations showing the influence of key technology metrics such as mass and specific impulse on mission-level performance are presented to illustrate the rationale behind AFRL's technology development strategy.
Air Force Research Laboratory's In-Space Propulsion Program
2015
27 pages
Report
No indication
English
Electric & Ion Propulsion , Unmanned Spacecraft , Air force research , Electric propulsion , Hall thrusters , Propulsion systems , Spacecraft , Air force operations , Configurations , Energetic properties , Hall effect , Hydrazines , Maturation , Missions , Propellants , Research facilities , Research management , Reversible , Spaceborne , Specific impulse , State of the art , Strategy , Thrusters , Electrosprays , Air force research laboratory , Briefing charts , Q18b
The Air Force Research Laboratory's in-Space Propulsion Program (AAS 15-062)
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