The cesium bombardment engine north-south stationkeeping experiment on ATS-6Two one-millipound-thrust cesium-bombardment ion thrusters have been developed and integrated on the ATS-F spacecraft for the purpose of demonstrating compatible north-south stationkeeping of a synchronous communication satellite. In addition to the two flight units, an identical system is undergoing extended testing on the ground to demonstrate operating lifetime. On July 17, 1974, approximately 50 days after launch, preliminary operation of one of the thrusters was begun. Completely successful operation was achieved on the first run. In addition to verifying operation, the principal accomplishments were the demonstration of a total absence of interference with the complete array of spacecraft-to-ground communication links and the verification of the predicted spacecraft operating potential of approximately -10 volts. Subsequent attempts to operate the same thruster have not been successful and an investigation of possible explanations is underway.
Document ID
19750052491
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Hunter, R. E.
Bartlett, R. O. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Worlock, R. M.
James, E. L. (Xerox Corp. Pasadena, Calif., United States)