Software and system level tests of a test flight mercury ion thruster subsystemA U.S. Air Force technology spacecraft flight is scheduled to carry an Ion Auxiliary Propulsion System (IAPS) as part of its experimental payload. This paper presents the results of the successful flight-software qualification and system-level tests which were performed on IAPS. The software tests were performed with an operating engineering model ion thruster and power processing unit, and failure/off-normal recovery modes, operation with and without temperature telemetry from the thruster vaporizers, and with closed-loop control or fixed setpoint operation of the thruster vaporizers. The system-level tests cover a wide range of thermal and operating conditions with the entire system exposed to a simulated space environment.
Document ID
19830031267
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Robson, R. R. (Hughes Research Laboratories Malibu, CA, United States)
Low, C. A., Jr. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1982
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 82-1912
Meeting Information
Meeting: Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences, and DGLR, International Electric Propulsion Conference