The historical record of the SERT II ion thrustors and spacecraft performance for 6-1/2 years since the February 1970 launch is reviewed. The most recent ion thrustor operation test shows no changes since 1974. Thrustor 2 is fully operational with no performance degradation. Thrustor 1 has a high voltage grid short, but continues to demonstrate cathode and discharge relight capability. Spacecraft orbit and dynamic analysis indicates a stable, sun-synchronous spacecraft orientation by 1979. An attitude adjustment maneuver was performed in August 1976 to achieve this orientation and provide sufficient continuous solar power for thrustor operation in 1979.
Status of SERT II thrusters and spacecraft - 1976
International Electric Propulsion Conference ; 1976 ; Key Biscayne, FL
1976-11-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
Status of SERT II thrusters and spacecraft - 1976
AIAA | 1976
|Status of SERT 2 Thrusters and Spacecraft 1976
NTIS | 1976
|Status of SERT 2 thrusters and spacecraft 1976
NTRS | 1976
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Tema Archive | 1978
|Status of SERT II spacecraft and ion thrusters - 1978
AIAA | 1978
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