An automated test facility capable of simultaneously operating three 2.5 kW, 30-cm mercury ion thrusters and their power processors is described, along with a test program conducted for the documentation of thruster characteristics as a function of time. Facility controls are analog, with full redundancy, so that in the event of malfunction the facility automaticcally activates a backup mode and notifies an operator. Test data are recorded by a central data collection system and processed as daily averages. The facility has operated continuously for a period of 37 months, over which nine mercury ion thrusters and four power processor units accumulated a total of over 14,500 hours of thruster operating time.


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    Title :

    Operational summary of an electric propulsion long term test facility


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences, and DGLR, International Electric Propulsion Conference ; 1982 ; New Orleans, LA


    Publication date :

    1982-11-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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