This article describes the two stage bismuth fueled Hall thruster technology that was developed at TsNIIMASH [1] and the Very High Isp Thruster with Anode Layer (VHITAL) technology assessment program that is funded by NASA Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD)' Prometheus program. The overall objective of this program is to evaluate the potential for this Russian-developed thruster technology to enable near-term, Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEf)-enabled ESMD missions to the outer planets. This 2.5 year program will provide the technology basis for the development of even higher power anode layer thrusters for rapid outer planet exploration missions and, ultimately, human exploration of the solar system. The first 6 month phase is currently in progress. If this phase is successful, the second (1 year) and third (1 year) phase of the proposed program will follow.
Very High Isp Thruster with Anode Layer (VHITAL): An Overview
AIAA Space 2004 ; 2004 ; San Diego, CA, United States
2004-09-28
Conference paper
No indication
English
AIAA-2004-5910 Very High Isp Thruster with Anode Layer (VHITAL) - An Overview
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2004
|FULL-LENGTH PAPERS - Very-Near-Field Plume Investigation of the Anode Layer Thruster
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