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An electric propulsion long term test facilityAn existing test facility was modified to provide for extended testing of multiple electric propulsion thruster subsystems. A program to document thruster subsystem characteristics as a function of time is currently in progress. The facility is capable of simultaneously operating three 2.7-kW, 30-cm mercury ion thrusters and their power processing units. Each thruster is installed via a separate air lock so that it can be extended into the 7m x 10m main chamber without violating vacuum integrity. The thrusters exhaust into a 3m x 5m frozen mercury target. An array of cryopanels collect sputtered target material. Power processor units are tested in an adjacent 1.5m x 2m vacuum chamber or accompanying forced convection enclosure. The thruster subsystems and the test facility are designed for automatic unattended operation with thruster operation computer controlled. Test data are recorded by a central data collection system scanning 200 channels of data a second every two minutes. Results of the Systems Demonstration Test, a short shakedown test of 500 hours, and facility performance during the first year of testing are presented.
Document ID
19800029138
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Trump, G.
(Xerox Electro-Optical Systems Pasadena, CA, United States)
James, E.
(Xerox Electro-Optical Systems Pasadena, Calif., United States)
Vetrone, R.
(Xerox Electro-Optical Systems Pasadena, CA, United States)
Bechtel, R.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1979
Subject Category
Ground Support Systems And Facilities (Space)
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 79-2080
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Electric Propulsion Conference
Location: Princeton, NJ
Start Date: October 30, 1979
End Date: November 1, 1979
Sponsors: Princeton University, AIAA, and DGLR,
Accession Number
80A13308
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS3-20399
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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