The selection of the optimum propellant for electric propulsion systems providing primary propulsion on deep space science missions is discussed. Candidate propellants are mercury and xenon. Spacecraft and systems designers favor xenon because of its inert nature. On the other hand, cosmochemists express reservations over the use of this element for missions involving the return of pristine primordial material (in the context of a comet nucleus sample return, for example). The interaction of propellant efflux with a spacecraft is investigated computationally, modeling the flux of propellant which reaches surfaces on the spacecraft. The physical and chemical effects on materials are also considered. The potential for contamination of a cometary sample is investigated, showing that the efflux from a xenon propelled system does not present any problems.
Propellant Selection Criteria for Deep Space Electrically Propelled Missions
1988
10 pages
Report
No indication
English