The evolutionary development of high specific impulse electric thruster technologyElectric propulsion flight and technology demonstrations conducted in the USA, Europe, Japan, China, and USSR are reviewed with reference to the major flight qualified electric propulsion systems. These include resistojets, ion thrusters, ablative pulsed plasma thrusters, stationary plasma thrusters, pulsed magnetoplasmic thrusters, and arcjets. Evolutionary mission applications are presented for high specific impulse electric thruster systems. The current status of arcjet, ion, and magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters and their associated power processor technologies are summarized.
Document ID
19920056026
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Sovey, James S. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Hamley, John A. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Patterson, Michael J. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Rawlin, Vincent K. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Myers, Roger M. (Sverdrup Technology, Inc. Brook Park, OH, United States)