Spacecraft Electric Propulsion An Overview
The principles of operation and the several types of thrusters that are either operational or in advanced.
Spacecraft electric propulsion an overview. Our electric space propulsion expertise is based on the space proven radio frequency ion technology rit. Journal of electrostatics vol. 688 journalofpropulsionandpower vol 14 no 5 september october1998 spacecraftelectricpropulsion anoverview m martinez sanchez massachusettsinstituteoftechnology. Unlike chemical systems electric propulsion requires very little mass to accelerate a.
Electric power level kw duration of use 10 min 1 hour 1 day 1 month 1 year 10 years chemical 10 1 10 0 10 1 10 2 10 3 10 4 10 5 10 6 10 7. Electric thrusters typically use much less propellant than chemical rockets because they have a higher exhaust speed operate. Spacecraft electric propulsion an overview. Spacecraft electric propulsion an overview.
Electric propulsion ep is a class of space propulsion which makes use of electrical power to accelerate a propellant by different possible electrical and or magnetic means. Power source applicability fuel cell chemical dynamic apus hours. Electrodynamics tethers propulsion charged tether. An electrically powered spacecraft propulsion system uses electrical and possibly also magnetic fields to change the velocity of a spacecraft most of these kinds of spacecraft propulsion systems work by electrically expelling propellant reaction mass at high speed.
A short review of the status of electric propulsion ep is presented to serve as an introduction to the more specialized technical papers. The use of electrical power enhances the propulsive performances of the ep thrusters compared with conventional chemical thrusters. Electric ion space propulsion systems and thrusters radio frequency ion propulsion for orbit raising station keeping and deep space missions. To the chilling cold of space and virtually invulnerable to high radiation fields.
Endurance testing of a pulsed plasma thruster for nanosatellites. Journal of propulsion and power 14 5 688 699. Within this field we produce complete propulsion systems modules thrusters and.