The technology status of 8 cm diameter electron bombardment ion thrusters is presented. Much of the technology resulting from the 5 cm diameter thruster has been adapted and improved upon to increase the reliability, durability, and efficiency of the 8 cm thruster. Technology discussed includes: dependence of neutralizer tip erosion upon neutralizer flow rate; impregnated and rolled-foil insert cathode performance and life testing; neutralizer position studies; thruster ion beam profile measurements; high voltage pulse ignition; high utilization ion machined accelerator grids; deposition internal and external to the thruster; thruster vectoring systems; thruster cycling life testing and thruster system weights for typical mission applications.


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    Title :

    Eight-cm mercury ion thruster system technology


    Conference:

    AIAA/SAE 10th Propulsion Conf. ; 1974 ; San Diego, CA, United States


    Publication date :

    1974-01-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English