Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
The technology status of 8 cm diameter electron bombardment ion thrusters is presented. Much of the technology resulting from the 5 cm diameter thruster has been adapted and improved upon to increase the reliability, durability, and efficiency of the 8 cm thruster. Technology discussed includes: dependence of neutralizer tip erosion upon neutralizer flow rate; impregnated and rolled-foil insert cathode performance and life testing; neutralizer position studies; thruster ion beam profile measurements; high voltage pulse ignition; high utilization ion machined accelerator grids; deposition internal and external to the thruster; thruster vectoring systems; thruster cycling life testing and thruster system weights for typical mission applications.
Keywords:
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Type:
NASA-TM-X-71611
,
AIAA PAPER 74-1116
,
AIAA/SAE 10th Propulsion Conf.; Oct 21, 1974 - Oct 23, 1974; San Diego, CA; United States
Format:
application/pdf
