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Planned In-Space Electric Propulsion ExperimentsIon Propulsion provides an order of magnitude improvement, relative to chemical on-board propulsion systems, of specific impulse at the cost of a relatively small increase in propulsion system dry mass. For civilian space craft, ion propulsion technology provides the potential for increased performance and reduced cost for planetary spacecraft and for large satellites in geostationary orbit. For military applications ion propulsion offers significant benefits for station keeping and repositioning satellites in geostationary orbit. NASA has begun to validate ion propulsion technology for applications to which 2.5 kW to 5.0 kW ion thrusters would be appropriate. NASA's validation program, called NSTAR (NASA SEP Technology Application Readiness), consists of two major elements: a ground test element and an in-space experiment. The Ground Test Element will validate the life, integrability, and performance of low-power ion propulsion. The In-Space Element will demonstrate the ability to integrate and fly an ion propulsion system. As an experiment, it will measure the interactions between the ion propulsion system, the host spacecraft, and the surrounding space plasma; and it will provide a quantitative assessment of the ability of ground testing to replicate the in-space performance of ion thrusters. By involving industry in this program, a commercial source for this technology will be assured. Further, the successful completion of the NSTAR validation program will stimulate commercial and government (both civilian and military) uses of this technology.
Document ID
20060037985
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Stocky, John
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
October 3, 1994
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
ion propulsion planetary spacecraft geostationary orbit NSTAR ground test
thrusters validation commercial military civilian station keeping satellites

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