NASA is continuing the development of a 12.5-kW Hall thruster system, which is baselined in a phased exploration concept to expand human presence to cis-lunar space and eventually to Mars. The development team is transitioning knowledge gained from the testing of the government-built Technology Development Unit (TDU) to the contractor-built Engineering Development Unit (EDU). A new laser-induced fluorescence diagnostic that is compatible with the testing of engineering hardware was developed to obtain data for thruster model validation in the lowest background pressure achievable. Prior to performing the test on the EDU, the team performed a functional checkout test of this new diagnostic using the TDU. In addition to providing a checkout of the diagnostic, this test provided data that can be correlated to electron mobility for comparison to the EDU at a later date. A number of technical challenges related to large test facilities and interfacing with engineering hardware were overcome while implementing the new laser diagnostic system. The initial data set was in good agreement with prior optical and non-optical diagnostics data collected on the TDU thrusters. This data set also revealed the spatial origin of high angle ions that have been of concern for spacecraft integration.
A Laser-Induced Fluorescence Diagnostic for HERMeS and High-Power Electric Propulsion
Spacecraft Propulsion Subcommittee
;
2017
;
Long Beach, CA, United States
JANNAF Propulsion Meeting
;
2017
;
Long Beach, CA, United States
2018-05-23
Conference paper
No indication
English
NTIS | 1987
|Hermes propulsion system design
Tema Archive | 1987
|Hermes propulsion system design
AIAA | 1987
|HERMES propulsion system design and modelization
AIAA | 1988
|