An existing test facility was modified to provide for extended testing of multiple electric propulsion thruster subsystems. A program to document thruster subsystem characteristics as a function of time is currently in progress. The facility is capable of simultaneously operating three 2.7-kW, 30-cm mercury ion thrusters and their power processing units. Each thruster is installed via a separate air lock so that it can be extended into the 7m x 10m main chamber without violating vacuum integrity. The thrusters exhaust into a 3m x 5m frozen mercury target. An array of cryopanels collect sputtered target material. Power processor units are tested in an adjacent 1.5m x 2m vacuum chamber or accompanying forced convection enclosure. The thruster subsystems and the test facility are designed for automatic unattended operation with thruster operation computer controlled. Test data are recorded by a central data collection system scanning 200 channels of data a second every two minutes. Results of the Systems Demonstration Test, a short shakedown test of 500 hours, and facility performance during the first year of testing are presented.


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    Title :

    An electric propulsion long term test facility


    Contributors:
    Trump, G. (author) / James, E. (author) / Vetrone, R. (author) / Bechtel, R. (author)

    Conference:

    International Electric Propulsion Conference ; 1979 ; Princeton, NJ


    Publication date :

    1979-10-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    An electric propulsion long term test facility

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    An electric propulsion long term test facility

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    Operational summary of an electric propulsion long term test facility

    Trump, G. E. / James, E. L. / Bechtel, R. T. | NTRS | 1982


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