The microwave electrothermal thruster (MET) is attractive for medium- or high-power spacecraft propulsion. A propellant gas is heated by passing it through a microwave plasma discharge created in a resonant cavity by tuning either the TM(011) or the TM(012) mode for impedance-matched operation. The MET is electrodeless, synergistically combines high pressure and high power capability, provides external control over the energy-conversion discharge, and operates on hydrogen propellant. Upwards of 95% efficiency has been reported. Calculations of potential MET performance are reported. Apparatus for testing the MET to power levels of 30 kW at 915 MHz is described. The low-ripple operation of the microwave generator has been verified, as has a procedure for starting the microwave discharge and raising the power applied to the cavity. Impedance-matched resonant operation of the microwave cavity has been achieved.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Microwave electrothermal propulsion for space


    Additional title:

    Elektrothermischer Mikrowellenantrieb für den Weltraum


    Contributors:
    Power, J.L. (author)


    Publication date :

    1992


    Size :

    13 Seiten, 17 Quellen




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




    MICROWAVE ELECTROTHERMAL THRUSTER ADAPTED FOR IN-SPACE ELECTROTHERMAL PROPULSION

    GANAPATHY ROHAN M / NOWAL VINOD | European Patent Office | 2018

    Free access

    Microwave electrothermal thruster adapted for in-space electrothermal propulsion

    GANAPATHY ROHAN M / NOWAL VINOD | European Patent Office | 2020

    Free access

    A MICROWAVE ELECTROTHERMAL THRUSTER ADAPTED FOR IN-SPACE ELECTROTHERMAL PROPULSION

    GANAPATHY ROHAN M / NOWAL VINOD | European Patent Office | 2019

    Free access

    A MICROWAVE ELECTROTHERMAL THRUSTER ADAPTED FOR IN-SPACE ELECTROTHERMAL PROPULSION

    GANAPATHY ROHAN M / NOWAL VINOD | European Patent Office | 2017

    Free access

    Dual propellant microwave electrothermal propulsion systems

    HICKMAN ROBERT ALAN | European Patent Office | 2024

    Free access