This viewgraph presentation reviews NASA s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) Ion Propulsion system. The NEXT project is developing a solar electric ion propulsion system. The NEXT project is advancing the capability of ion propulsion to meet NASA robotic science mission needs. The NEXT system is planned to significantly improve performance over the state of the art electric propulsion systems, such as NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Application Readiness (NSTAR). The status of NEXT development is reviewed, including information on the NEXT Thruster, the power processing unit, the propellant management system (PMS), the digital control interface unit, and the gimbal. Block diagrams NEXT system are presented. Also a review of the lessons learned from the Dawn and NSTAR systems is provided. In summary the NEXT project activities through 2007 have brought next-generation ion propulsion technology to a sufficient maturity level.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster: The NEXT Ion Propulsion System for Solar System Exploration


    Contributors:
    E. J. Pencil (author) / S. W. Benson (author)

    Publication date :

    2008


    Size :

    42 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English







    NEXT: NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster

    Patterson, Michael / Foster, John / Haag, Thomas et al. | AIAA | 2002


    NEXT: NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster

    Patterson, M. J. / Foster, J. E. / Haag, T. W. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002