An experimental test program was carried out to document all 30-cm electron bombardment Hg ion bombardment thruster functions and characteristics over the thermal environment of several proposed missions. An engineering model thruster was placed in a thermal test facility equipped with -196 C walls and solar simulation. The thruster was cold soaked and exposed to simulated eclipses lasting in duration from 17 to 72 minutes. The thruster was operated at quarter, to full beam power in various thermal configurations which simulated multiple thruster operation, and was also exposed to 1 and 2 suns solar simulation. Thruster control characteristics and constraints; performance, including thrust magnitude and direction; and structural integrity were evaluated over the range of thermal environments tested.


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    Title :

    Thermal-environmental testing of a 30-cm engineering model thruster


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    International Electric Propulsion Conference ; 1976 ; Key Biscayne, FL


    Publication date :

    1976-11-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English







    Engineering Model 8-cm Thruster Subsystem

    B. G. Herron / J. Hyman / D. J. Hopper et al. | NTIS | 1978


    Engineering model 8-cm thruster subsystem

    Herron, B. G. / Hyman, J. / Hopper, D. J. et al. | NTRS | 1978