Publication Date:
2019-08-13
Description:
Impulse bits produced by conical theta-pinch inductive pulsed plasma thrusters possessing cone angles of 20deg, 38deg, and 60deg, were quantified for 500J/pulse operation by direct measurement using a hanging-pendulum thrust stand. All three cone angles were tested in single-pulse mode, with the 38deg model producing the highest impulse bits at roughly 1 mN-s operating on both argon and xenon propellants. A capacitor charging system, assembled to support repetitively-pulsed thruster operation, permitted testing of the 38deg thruster at a repetition-rate of 5 Hz at power levels of 0.9, 1.6, and 2.5 kW. The average thrust measured during multiple-pulse operation exceeded the value obtained when the single-pulse impulse bit is multiplied by the repetition rate.
Keywords:
Spacecraft Propulsion and Power
Type:
M13-2466
,
6th Space Propulsion Subcommittee Meeting (SPS); Apr 29, 2013 - May 03, 2013; Colorado Springs, CO; United States|9th Modelling and Simulation Subcommittee Meeting (MSS); Apr 29, 2013 - May 03, 2013; Colorado Springs, CO; United States|7th Liquid Propulsion Subcommittee Meeting (LPS); Apr 29, 2013 - May 03, 2013; Colorado Springs, CO; United States|60th JANNAF Propulsion Meeting; Apr 29, 2013 - May 03, 2013; Colorado Springs, CO; United States
Format:
application/pdf
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