Future spacecraft prime propulsion requirements will strain projected chemical thruster capabilities. Of the alternatives under development, electric propulsion systems have the longest background and have reached a high degree of design capability. A wide variety of electromagnetic thrusters are currently under study; however, arcjets and self-field MPD thrusters appear to be the best suited for prime propulsion applications because of their system simplicity, high thrust capability, and steady state operation. For geocentric orbit transfer, arcjet systems can be one third as massive as comparable chemical systems for modest orbit transfer missions using on-board payload power supplies. High power reusable MPD thruster orbit transfer vehicles can deliver over 5000 kg to geosynchronous orbit at a cost approaching half that of comparable LO2/LH2 thruster systems. Finally, for planetary exploration missions, arcjet systems are not only less massive than chemical thruster systems, but can also reduce the required trip times by over 30 %.


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    Title :

    Electromagnetic thrusters for spacecraft prime propulsion


    Additional title:

    Elektromagnetische Schuberzeuger fuer den Hauptantrieb von Raumfahrzeugen


    Contributors:
    Rudolph, L.K. (author) / King, D.Q. (author)

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1984


    Size :

    9 Seiten, 9 Bilder, 1 Tabelle, 28 Quellen


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English