Medium power arcjet thruster experimentsExperimental results on the electrothermal behavior and operating performance of water-cooled laboratory model arcjet thrusters using a variety of propellants in the range of 5-50 kW are reported. The highest voltage and specific impulse are attained with hydrogen propellant and the lowest with argon propellant; intermediate results are obtained with nitrogen and a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. The highest cathode erosion rate is measured with argon while the lowest is associated with hydrogen.
Document ID
19900055474
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Glocker, Bernd (Stuttgart Univ. Germany)
Auweter-Kurtz, Monika (Stuttgart Univ. Germany)
Goelz, Thomas M. (Stuttgart Univ. Germany)
Kurtz, Helmut L. (Stuttgart Univ. Germany)
Schrade, Herbert O. (Stuttgart, Universitaet Federal Republic of Germany, United States)