This study illuminates problems to be encountered when electrostatic colloid propulsion is integrated with operational spacecraft. The study method is to hypothetically apply colloid propulsion to four spacecraft: Program 191, a spinning satellite; Low Altitude Surveillance Satellite on which the colloid system performs drag make-up; ATS-G which exposes problems of compatibility with a complex experimental spacecraft; and Program 621-B which provides opportunity to study a multi-function, multi-thruster system. The study was conducted in three main tasks with the following conclusions: In comparison with alternate forms of propulsion, colloid propulsion is flexible in its adaptability to a variety of missions for which its low thrust, high specific impulse, and low power are uniquely suited; the impact on the development program of a spacecraft using colloid propulsion is that time spans need not be expanded provided that adequate effort is expended in planning and testing to insure proper integration; attention must be given to interface interactions between the colloid system and most other spacecraft equipment items. (Author)
System Study of Electrostatic Colloid Propulsion
1970
117 pages
Report
No indication
English
Electric & Ion Propulsion , Satellites(Artificial) , Plasma engines , Colloids , Electrostatic fields , Communication satellites(Active) , Navigation satellites , Attitude control systems , Space propulsion , Specific impulse , Contamination , Interfaces , Colloid propulsion , Stationkeeping , Rocket plumes , ATS-G satellites , LASS(Low Altitude Surveillance Satellites) , Low altitude surveillance satellites
Colloid-particle electrostatic thrustors
NTRS | 1966
|Colloid-particle electrostatic thrustors.
NTRS | 1966
|Colloid propulsion using chemically-formed particles
AIAA | 1966
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