Risk mitigation tests have been conducted by the NASA Glenn Research Center and The Aerospace Corporation in support of the DART Mission. The tests focused on NEXT performance characterizations intended to ensure its operations and characteristics are compatible with the DART mission operations, and to assist in the definition of the propulsion system. Tests were performed at the Aerospace Corporation and they involved: flow sensitivity-analyses, steady-state performance characterizations, and measurements of thruster erosion. The tests also involved defining, demonstrating, verifying, and evaluating the start-up sequences and a beam current regulation algorithm consistent with DART mission requirements. It was found that NEXT thruster operations are compatible with the proposed relaxation of flow control ranges for ignition and for steady-state operation.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    NEXT Ion Propulsion System Risk Mitigation Tests in Support of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test Mission


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum and Exposition ; 2019 ; Indianapolis, IN, United States


    Publication date :

    2019-08-19


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    NEXT Ion Propulsion System Risk Mitigation Tests in Support of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test Mission

    Thomas, Robert E. / Patterson, Michael J. / Crofton, Mark W. et al. | NTRS | 2019


    NEXT Ion Propulsion System Risk-Mitigation Tests in Support of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission

    Thomas, Robert / Patterson, Michael J. / John, Jeremy W. et al. | AIAA | 2019



    NEXT Ion Propulsion System Risk Mitigation Tests in Support of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test Mission

    Thomas, Robert E. / Patterson, Michael J. / Crofton, Mark W. et al. | NTRS | 2019