Development of a 30-cm mercury electron bombardment Engineering Model ion thruster has successfully brought the thruster from the status of a laboratory experimental device to a point approaching flight readiness. This paper describes the development progress of the Engineering Model (EM) thruster in four areas: (1) design features and fabrication approaches, (2) performance verification and thruster to thruster variations, (3) structural integrity, and (4) interface definition. The design of major subassemblies, including the cathode-isolator-vaporizer (CIV), main isolator-vaporizer (MIV), neutralizer isolator-vaporizer (NIV), ion optical system, and discharge chamber/outer housing is discussed along with experimental results.


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    Title :

    30 cm Engineering Model thruster design and qualification tests


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Electric Propulsion Conference ; 1975 ; New Orleans, LA


    Publication date :

    1975-03-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





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