Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
The purpose of the spacecraft is to space qualify a number of components for the next generation of communications satellites. The state of development of ion thrusters has reached a point where at least three types of engine may be considered for integration on spacecraft. The proposed methods of stationkeeping require that the thruster operate with a duty cycle of somewhat less than 12 hours in a 24 hour period. Several possible mounting positions for the thrusters were considered during the conceptual design phase. It is concluded that an experimental ion thruster subsystem may be incorporated in the communication satellite and used to demonstrate, at a minimum, north-south stationkeeping of the spacecraft in synchronous orbit.
Keywords:
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Type:
AIAA PAPER 72-491
,
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Electric Propulsion Conference; Apr 17, 1972 - Apr 19, 1972; Bethesda, MD
Format:
text
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