The Twin Electric Magnetospheric Probes Exploring on Spiral Trajectories mission concept was proposed as a Middle Explorer class mission. A pre-phase-A design was developed which utilizes the advantages of electric propulsion for Earth scientific spacecraft use. This paper presents propulsion system analyses performed for the proposal. The proposed mission required two spacecraft to explore near circular orbits 0.1 to 15 Earth radii in both high and low inclination orbits. Since the use of chemical propulsion would require launch vehicles outside the Middle Explorer class a reduction in launch mass was sought using ion, Hall, and arcjet electric propulsion system. Xenon ion technology proved to be the best propulsion option for the mission requirements requiring only two Pegasus XL launchers. The Hall thruster provided an alternative solution but required two larger, Taurus launch vehicles. Arcjet thrusters did not allow for significant launch vehicle reduction in the Middle Explorer class.


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    Title :

    Electric Propulsion Options for a Magnetospheric Mapping Mission


    Contributors:
    S. Oleson (author) / C. Russell (author) / K. Hack (author) / J. Riehl (author)

    Publication date :

    1998


    Size :

    12 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Electric Propulsion Options for a Magnetospheric Mapping Mission

    Oleson, Steven / Russell, Chris / Hack, Kurt et al. | NTRS | 1998



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    Electric Propulsion Options for the SP-100 Reference Mission

    T. L. Hardy / V. K. Rawlin / M. J. Patterson | NTIS | 1987