Nondestructive evaluation tools and experimental studies for monitoring the health of space propulsion systemsAn overview is given of background and information on space propulsion systems on both the programmatic and technical levels. Feasibility experimental studies indicate that nondestructive evaluation tools such as ultrasonic, eddy current and X-ray may be successfully used to monitor the life limiting failure mechanisms of space propulsion systems. Encouraging results were obtained for monitoring the life limiting failure mechanims for three space propulsion systems: the degradation of tungsten arcjet and magnetoplasmadynamic electrodes; presence and thickness of spallable electrically conducting molybdenum films in ion thrusters; and the degradation of the catalyst in hydrazine thrusters.
Document ID
19910069080
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Generazio, Edward R. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)