Future missions, both station keeping and primary electric propulsion, will require multiple thruster restarts after periods of inactivity from a few hours to over one year. Although not a part of the original SERT II (Space Electric Rocket Test) flight objective, the opportunity to demonstrate multiple cathode restarts in space became available following completion of thruster running. Both neutralizer and main cathodes of each flight thruster have been restarted repeatedly following storage periods up to 490 days. No deterioration of cathode heaters has been noted nor has any change been required in starting voltages or currents.
SERT II hollow cathode multiple restarts in space
Electric Propulsion Conference ; 1973 ; Lake Tahoe, NV
1973-10-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
SERT 2 hollow cathode multiple restarts in space
NTRS | 1973
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AIAA | 1974
|SERT II hollow cathode multiple restarts in space
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