Publication Date:
2019-06-28
Description:
An experimental program was conducted at the Lewis Research Center with the objective of investigating the technical feasibility of rail accelerators for propulsion applications. Single-stage, plasma driven rail accelerators of small (4 by 6 mm) and medium (12.5 by 12.5 mm) bores were tested at peak accelerating currents of 50 to 450 kA. Streak-camera photography was used to provide a qualitative description of plasma armature acceleration. The effects of plasma blowby and varying bore pressure on the behavior of plasma armatures were studied.
Keywords:
SPACECRAFT PROPULSION AND POWER
Type:
NASA-TP-2571
,
E-2754
,
NAS 1.60:2571
Format:
application/pdf
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