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The 15 cm diameter ion thruster research
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Wilbur, P. J. |
| Copyright Year | 1974 |
| Description | The startup reliability of a 15 cm diameter mercury bombardment ion thruster which employs a pulsed high voltage tickler electrode on the main and neutralizer cathodes is examined. Startup of the thruster is achieved 100% of the time on the main cathode and 98.7% of the time on the neutralizer cathode over a 3640 cycle test. The thruster was started from a 20 C initial condition and operated for an hour at a 600 mA beam current. An energy efficiency of 75% and a propellant utilization efficiency of 77% was achieved over the complete cycle. The effect of a single cusp magnetic field thruster length on its performance is discussed. Guidelines are formulated for the shaping of magnetic field lines in thrusters. A model describing double ion production in mercury discharges is presented. The production route is shown to occur through the single ionic ground state. Photographs of the interior of an operating-hollow cathode are presented. A cathode spot is shown to be present if the cathode is free of low work-function surfaces. The spot is observed if a low work-function oxide coating is applied to the cathode insert. Results show that low work-function oxide coatings tend to migrate during thruster operation. |
| File Size | 3211857 |
| Page Count | 97 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19750004949 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t0sr3nh5n |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1974-12-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Spacecraft Propulsion And Power Electrostatic Engines Ion Propulsion Reliability Analysis Restartable Rocket Engines Magnetic Fields Coatings Mercury Metal Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Technical Report |
