Electric propulsion systems derive their low overall mass, relative to chemical propulsion systems, from an optimized mix of independently controlled power and mass flow rate. A significant reduction in mass can be secured by substituting electric propulsion for conventional hydrazine systems for all the major propulsion tasks of a communications satellite. Additional advantages for all electric propulsion maneuvers are precision location and higher pointing accuracy. Three auxiliary electric propulsion systems are now available for application on communications satellites: the electrically augmented hydrazine system, the Teflon pulsed plasma system, and the mercury ion thruster system. Primary electric propulsion will be available in the mid to late 1980s as a spin-off of NASA's program of interplanetary exploration.


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    Title :

    Electric propulsion for communications satellites


    Contributors:
    Free, B. A. (author) / Guman, W. J. (author) / Herron, B. G. (author) / Zafran, S. (author)

    Conference:

    Communications Satellite Systems Conference ; 1978 ; San Diego, CA


    Publication date :

    1978-01-01


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Electric propulsion for communications satellites

    FREE, B. / GUMAN, W. / HERRON, B. et al. | AIAA | 1978



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    Isley, W. C. / Duck, K. I. | NTRS | 1972