Download or read book Structural and Thermal Response of 30 Cm Diameter Ion Thruster Optics written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-07-11 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tabular and graphical data are presented which are intended for use in calibrating and validating structural and thermal models of ion thruster optics. A 30 cm diameter, two electrode, mercury ion thruster was operated using two different electrode assembly designs. With no beam extraction, the transient and steady state temperature profiles and center electrode gaps were measured for three discharge powers. The data showed that the electrode mount design had little effect on the temperatures, but significantly impacted the motion of the electrode center. Equilibrium electrode gaps increased with one design and decreased with the other. Equilibrium displacements in excess of 0.5 mm and gap changes of 0.08 mm were measured at 450 W discharge power. Variations in equilibrium gaps were also found among assemblies of the same design. The presented data illustrate the necessity for high fidelity ion optics models and development of experimental techniques to allow their validation. Macrae, G. S. and Zavesky, R. J. and Gooder, S. T. Glenn Research Center RTOP 506-42-31...

Download or read book Comparison of Thermal Analytic Model with Experimental Test Results for 30 Sentimeter Diameter Engineering Model Mercury Ion Thruster written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-08-09 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A thermal analytic model for a 30-cm engineering model mercury-ion thruster was developed and calibrated using the experimental test results of tests of a pre-engineering model 30-cm thruster. A series of tests, performed later, simulated a wide range of thermal environments on an operating 30-cm engineering model thruster, which was instrumented to measure the temperature distribution within it. The modified analytic model is described and analytic and experimental results compared for various operating conditions. Based on the comparisons, it is concluded that the analytic model can be used as a preliminary design tool to predict thruster steady-state temperature distributions for stage and mission studies and to define the thermal interface bewteen the thruster and other elements of a spacecraft. Oglebay, J. C. Glenn Research Center NASA-TM-X-3541, E-9064 RTOP 506-22...

Download or read book High Power Ion Thruster Technology written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-07-17 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Performance data are presented for the NASA/Hughes 30-cm-diam 'common' thruster operated over the power range from 600 W to 4.6 kW. At the 4.6-kW power level, the thruster produces 172 mN of thrust at a specific impulse of just under 4000 s. Xenon pressure and temperature measurements are presented for a 6.4-mm-diam hollow cathode operated at emission currents ranging from 5 to 30 A and flow rates of 4 sccm and 8 sccm. Highly reproducible results show that the cathode temperature is a linear function of emission current, ranging from approx. 1000 C to 1150 C over this same current range. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements obtained from a 30-cm-diam thruster are presented, suggesting that LIF could be a valuable diagnostic for real-time assessment of accelerator-arid erosion. Calibration results of laminar-thin-film (LTF) erosion badges with bulk molybdenum are presented for 300-eV xenon, krypton, and argon sputtering ions. Facility-pressure effects on the charge-exchange ion current collected by 8-cm-diam and 30-cm-diam thrusters operated on xenon propellant are presented to show that accel current is nearly independent of facility pressure at low pressures, but increases rapidly under high-background-pressure conditions. Beattie, J. R. and Matossian, J. N. Glenn Research Center ELECTRIC PROPULSION; ION PROPULSION; PLASMA PROPULSION; ROCKET THRUST; PRESSURE MEASUREMENT; PRESSURE EFFECTS; SPECIFIC IMPULSE; THIN FILMS; ION CURRENTS; ION ENGINES; CHARGE TRANSFER; PLASMA ENGINES; PROPELLANTS; TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT; LASER INDUCED FLUORESCENCE; FLOW VELOCITY...

Download or read book Design and Performance of 40 CM Ion Optics written by National Aeronautics and Space Adm Nasa and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2018-10-03 with total page 42 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A 40 cm ion thruster is being developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center to obtain input power and propellant throughput capabilities of 10 kW and 550 kg. respectively. The technical approach here is a continuation of the "derating" technique used for the NSTAR ion thruster. The 40 cm ion thruster presently utilizes the NSTAR ion optics aperture geometry to take advantage of the large database of lifetime and performance data already available. Dome-shaped grids were chosen for the design of the 40 cm ion optics because this design is naturally suited for large-area ion optics. Ion extraction capabilities and electron backstreaming limits for the 40 cm ion optics were estimated by utilizing NSTAR 30 cm ion optics data. A preliminary service life assessment showed that the propellant throughput goal of 550 kg of xenon may be possible with molybdenum 40 cm ion optics. One 40 cm ion optics' set has been successfully fabricated to date. Additional ion optics' sets are presently being fabricated. Preliminary performance tests were conducted on a laboratory model 40 cm ion thruster. Soulas, George C. Glenn Research Center; Marshall Space Flight Center NASA/TM-2001-211275, E-13074, IEPC-01-090, NAS 1.15:211275

Download or read book Plume and Discharge Plasma Measurements of an Nstar Type Ion Thruster written by National Aeronautics and Space Adm Nasa and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2018-09-27 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The success of the NASA Deep Space I spacecraft has demonstrated that ion propulsion is a viable option for deep space science missions. More aggressive missions such as Comet Nuclear Sample Return and Europa lander will require higher power, higher propellant throughput and longer thruster lifetime than the NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Application Readiness (NSTAR) engine. Presented here are thruster plume and discharge plasma measurements of an NSTAR-type thruster operated from 0.5 kW to 5 kW. From Faraday plume sweeps, beam divergence was determined. From Langmuir probe plume measurements on centerline, low energy ion production on axis due to charge-exchange and direct ionization was assessed. Additionally, plume plasma potential measurements made on axis were used to determine the upper energy limits at which ions created on centerline could be radially accelerated. Wall probes flush-mounted to the thruster discharge chamber anode were used to assess plasma conditions. Langmuir probe measurements at the wall indicated significant differences in the electron temperature in the cylindrical and conical sections of the discharge chamber. Foster, John E and Soulas, George C. and Patterson, Michael J. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2000-210382, E-12438, AIAA Paper 2000-3812, NAS 1.15:210382

Download or read book Nasa s Hall Thruster Program written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-19 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NASA's Hall thruster program has base research and focused development efforts in support of the Advanced Space Transportation Program, Space-Based Program, and various other programs. The objective of the base research is to gain an improved understanding of the physical processes and engineering constraints of Hall thrusters to enable development of advanced Hall thruster designs. Specific technical questions that are current priorities of the base effort are: (1) How does thruster life vary with operating point? (2) How can thruster lifetime and wear rate be most efficiently evaluated? (3) What are the practical limitations for discharge voltage as it pertains to high specific impulse operation (high discharge voltage) and high thrust operation (low discharge voltage)? (4) What are the practical limits for extending Hall thrusters to very high input powers? and (5) What can be done during thruster design to reduce cost and integration concerns? The objective of the focused development effort is to develop a 50 kW-class Hall propulsion system, with a milestone of a 50 kW engineering model thruster/system by the end of program year 2006. Specific program wear 2001 efforts, along with the corporate and academic participation, are described. Jankovsky, Robert S. and Jacobson, David T. and Rawlin, Vincent K. and Mason, Lee S. and Mantenieks, Maris A. and Manzella, David H. and Hofer, Richard R. and Peterson, Peter Y. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2001-211215, E-13067, NAS 1.15:211215, AIAA Paper 2001-3888

Download or read book Ion Engine and Hall Thruster Development at the NASA Glenn Research Center written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-20 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NASA's Glenn Research Center has been selected to lead development of NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) system. The central feature of the NEXT system is an electric propulsion thruster (EPT) that inherits the knowledge gained through the NSTAR thruster that successfully propelled Deep Space 1 to asteroid Braille and comet Borrelly, while significantly increasing the thruster power level and making improvements in performance parameters associated with NSTAR. The EPT concept under development has a 40 cm beam diameter, twice the effective area of the Deep-Space 1 thruster, while maintaining a relatively-small volume. It incorporates mechanical features and operating conditions to maximize the design heritage established by the flight NSTAR 30 cm engine, while incorporating new technology where warranted to extend the power and throughput capability. The NASA Hall thruster program currently supports a number of tasks related to high power thruster development for a number of customers including the Energetics Program (formerly called the Space-based Program), the Space Solar Power Program, and the In-space Propulsion Program. In program year 2002, two tasks were central to the NASA Hall thruster program: 1.) the development of a laboratory Hall thruster capable of providing high thrust at high power; 2.) investigations into operation of Hall thrusters at high specific impulse. In addition to these two primary thruster development activities, there are a number of other on-going activities supported by the NASA Hall thruster program, These additional activities are related to issues such as thruster lifetime and spacecraft integration. Domonkos, Matthew T. and Patterson, Michael J. and Jankovsky, Robert S. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2002-211969, NAS 1.15:211969, E-13612, IMECE-2002-34444

Download or read book Microwave Ecr Ion Thruster Development Activities at NASA Glenn Research Center written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-20 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Outer solar system missions will have propulsion system lifetime requirements well in excess of that which can be satisfied by ion thrusters utilizing conventional hollow cathode technology. To satisfy such mission requirements, other technologies must be investigated. One possible approach is to utilize electrodeless plasma production schemes. Such an approach has seen low power application less than 1 kW on earth-space spacecraft such as ARTEMIS which uses the rf thruster the RIT 10 and deep space missions such as MUSES-C which will use a microwave ion thruster. Microwave and rf thruster technologies are compared. A microwave-based ion thruster is investigated for potential high power ion thruster systems requiring very long lifetimes. Foster, John E. and Patterson, Michael J. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2002-211877, NAS 1.15:211877, E-13559, AIAA Paper 2002-3837

Download or read book Performance and Vibration of 30 Cm Pyrolytic Ion Thruster Optics written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-21 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Carbon has a sputter erosion rate about an order of magnitude less than that of molybdenum, over the voltages typically used in ion thruster applications. To explore its design potential, 30 cm pyrolytic carbon ion thruster optics have been fabricated geometrically similar to the molybdenum ion optics used on NSTAR. They were then installed on an NSTAR Engineering Model thruster, and experimentally evaluated over much of the original operating envelope. Ion beam currents ranged from 0.51 to 1.76 Angstroms, at total voltages up to 1280 V. The perveance, electron back-streaming limit, and screen-grid transparency were plotted for these operating points, and compared with previous data obtained with molybdenum. While thruster performance with pyrolytic carbon was quite similar to that with molybdenum, behavior variations can reasonably be explained by slight geometric differences. Following all performance measurements, the pyrolytic carbon ion optics assembly was subjected to an abbreviated vibration test. The thruster endured 9.2 g(sub rms) of random vibration along the thrust axis, similar to DS 1 acceptance levels. Despite significant grid clashing, there was no observable damage to the ion optics assembly. Haag, Thomas and Soulas, George C. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2004-213178, E-14673, AIAA Paper 2003-4557

Download or read book Carbon Based Ion Optics Development at NASA Grc written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-21 with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With recent success of the NSTAR ion thruster on Deep Space 1, there is continued interest in long term, high propellant throughput thrusters to perform energetic missions. This requires flight qualified thrusters that can operate for long periods at high beam density, without degradation in performance resulting from sputter induced grid erosion. Carbon-based materials have shown nearly an order of magnitude improvement in sputter erosion resistance over molybdenum. NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been active over the past several years pursuing carbon-based grid development. In 1995, NASA GRC sponsored work performed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to fabricate carbon/carbon composite grids using a machined panel approach. In 1999, a contract was initiated with a commercial vendor to produce carbon/carbon composite grids using a chemical vapor infiltration process. In 2001, NASA GRC purchased pyrolytic carbon grids from a commercial vendor. More recently, a multi-year contract was initiated with North Carolina A&T to develop carbon/carbon composite grids using a resin injection process. The following paper gives a brief overview of these four programs. Haag, Thomas and Patterson, Michael and Rawlin, Vince and Soulas, George Glenn Research Center; Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Marshall Space Flight Center NASA/TM-2002-211501, NAS 1.15:211501, IEPC-01-94, E-13241

Download or read book Ion Beam Characterization of a Next Multi Thruster Array Plume written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Three operational, engineering model, 7-kW ion thrusters and one instrumented, dormant thruster were installed in a cluster array in a large vacuum facility at NASA Glenn Research Center. A series of engineering demonstration tests were performed to evaluate the system performance impacts of operating various multiple-thruster configurations in an array. A suite of diagnostics was installed to investigate multiple-thruster operation impact on thruster performance and life, thermal interactions, and alternative system modes and architectures. The ion beam characterization included measuring ion current density profiles and ion energy distribution with Faraday probes and retarding potential analyzers, respectively. This report focuses on the ion beam characterization during single thruster operation, multiple thruster operation, various neutralizer configurations, and thruster gimbal articulation. Comparison of beam profiles collected during single and multiple thruster operation demonstrated the utility of superimposing single engine beam profiles to predict multi-thruster beam profiles. High energy ions were detected in the region 45 off the thruster axis, independent of thruster power, number of operating thrusters, and facility background pressure, which indicated that the most probable ion energy was not effected by multiple-thruster operation. There were no significant changes to the beam profiles collected during alternate thruster-neutralizer configurations, therefore supporting the viability of alternative system configuration options. Articulation of one thruster shifted its beam profile, whereas the beam profile of a stationary thruster nearby did not change, indicating there were no beam interactions which was consistent with the behavior of a collisionless beam expansion.Pencil, Eric J. and Foster, John E. and Patterson, Michael J. and Diaz, Esther M. and Van Noord, Jonathan L. and McEwen, Heather K.Glenn Research CenterION ENGINES; ELECTRIC PROPULSION; S

Download or read book Inter Cusp Ion and Electron Transport in a Nstar Derivative Ion Thruster written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-08-20 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Diffusion of electrons and ions to anode surfaces between the magnetic cusps of a NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Application Readiness ion thruster has been characterized. Ion flux measurements were made at the anode and at the screen grid electrode. The measurements indicated that the average ion current density at the anode and at the screen grid were approximately equal. Additionally, it was found that the electron flux to the anode between cusps is best described by the classical cross-field diffusion coefficient. Foster, John E. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2001-210669, NAS 1.15:210669, E-12535

Download or read book Titanium Optics for Ion Thrusters written by National Aeronautics and Space Adm Nasa and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2018-09-26 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ion thruster total impulse capability is limited, in part, by accelerator grid sputter erosion. A development effort was initiated to identify a material with a lower accelerator grid volumetric sputter erosion rate than molybdenum, but that could utilize the present NSTAR thruster grid design and fabrication techniques to keep development costs low, and perform as well as molybdenum optics. After comparing the sputter erosion rates of several atomic materials to that of molybdenum at accelerator voltages, titanium was found to offer a 45% reduction in volumetric erosion rates. To ensure that screen grid sputter erosion rates are not higher at discharge chamber potentials, titanium and molybdenum sputter erosion rates were measured at these potentials. Preliminary results showed only a slightly higher volumetric erosion rate for titanium, so that screen grid erosion is insignificant. A number of material, thermal, and mechanical properties were also examined to identify any fabrication, launch environment, and thruster operation issues. Several titanium grid sets were successfully fabricated. A titanium grid set was mounted onto an NSTAR 30 cm engineering model ion thruster and tested to determine optics performance. The titanium optics operated successfully over the entire NSTAR power range of 0.5 to 2.3 kW. Differences in impingement-limited perveances and electron backstreaming limits were found to be due to a larger cold gap for the titanium optics. Discharge losses for titanium grids were lower than those for molybdenum, likely due to a slightly larger titanium screen grid open area fraction. Radial distributions of beam current density with titanium optics were very similar to those with molybdenum optics at all power levels. Temporal electron backstreaming limit measurements showed that titanium optics achieved thermal equilibrium faster than molybdenum optics. Soulas, George C. and Haag, Thomas W. and Patterson, Michael J. and Rawlin, Vincent K. Glenn Resear

Download or read book Status of Nasa s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster Next Long Duration Test as of 50 000 H and 900 Kg Throughput written by National Aeronautics and Space Adm Nasa and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2019-01-14 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) project is developing the next-generation solar electric propulsion ion propulsion system with significant enhancements beyond the state-of-the-art NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Application Readiness (NSTAR) ion propulsion system in order to provide future NASA science missions with enhanced propulsion capabilities. As part of a comprehensive thruster service life assessment, the NEXT Long-Duration Test (LDT) was initiated in June 2005 to demonstrate throughput capability and validate thruster service life modeling. The NEXT LDT exceeded its original qualification throughput requirement of 450 kg in December 2009. To date, the NEXT LDT has set records for electric propulsion lifetime and has demonstrated 50,170 h of operation, processed 902 kg of propellant, and delivered 34.9 MN-s of total impulse. The NEXT thruster design mitigated several life-limiting mechanisms encountered in the NSTAR design, dramatically increasing service life capability. Various component erosion rates compare favorably to the pretest predictions based upon semi-empirical ion thruster models. The NEXT LDT either met or exceeded all of its original goals regarding lifetime demonstration, performance and wear characterization, and modeling validation. In light of recent budget constraints and to focus on development of other components of the NEXT ion propulsion system, a voluntary termination procedure for the NEXT LDT began in April 2013. As part of this termination procedure, a comprehensive post-test performance characterization was conducted across all operating conditions of the NEXT throttle table. These measurements were found to be consistent with prior data that show minimal degradation of performance over the thruster's 50 kh lifetime. Repair of various diagnostics within the test facility is presently planned while keeping the thruster under high vacuum conditions. These diagnostics will provide additional critical informat

Download or read book Grid Gap Measurement for an Nstar Ion Thruster written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-24 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The change in gap between the screen and accelerator grids of an engineering model NSTAR ion optics assembly was measured during thruster operation with beam extraction. The molybdenum ion optics assembly was mounted onto an engineering model NSTAR ion thruster. The measurement technique consisted of measuring the difference in height of an alumina pin relative to the downstream accelerator grid surface. The alumina pin was mechanically attached to the center aperture of the screen grid and protruded through the center aperture of the accelerator grid. The change in pin height was monitored using a long distance microscope coupled to a digital imaging system. Transient and steady-state hot grid gaps were measured at three power levels: 0.5, 1.5 and 2.3 kW. Also, the change in grid gap was measured during the transition between power levels, and during the startup with high voltage applied just prior to discharge ignition. Performance measurements, such as perveance, electron backstreaming limit and screen grid ion transparency, were also made to confirm that this ion optics assembly performed similarly to past testing. Results are compared to a prior test of 30 cm titanium ion optics. Diaz, Esther M. and Soulas, George C. Glenn Research Center; Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA/TM-2006-214249, E-15494, IEPC-2005-244

Download or read book Internal Plasma Properties and Enhanced Performance of an 8 Cm Ion Thruster Discharge written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-15 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is a need for a lightweight, low power ion thruster for space science missions. Such an ion thruster is under development at NASA Glenn Research Center. In an effort to better understand the discharge performance of this thruster. a version of this thruster with an anode containing electrically isolated electrodes at the cusps was fabricated and tested. Discharge characteristics of this ring cusp ion thruster were measured without ion beam extraction. Discharge current was measured at collection electrodes located at the cusps and at the anode body itself. Discharge performance and plasma properties were measured as a function of discharge power, which was varied between 20 and 50 W. It was found that ion production costs decreased by as much as 20 percent when the two most downstream cusp electrodes were allowed to float. Floating the electrodes did not give rise to a significant increase in discharge power even though the plasma density increased markedly. The improved performance is attributed to enhanced electron containment. Foster, John E. and Patterson, Michael J. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-1999-209386, E-11813, NAS 1.15:209386

Download or read book Summary of Experiments Performed to Investigate the Effects of Ion Thruster Plumes on Microwave Propagation written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-15 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Electric propulsion systems have now reached a level of maturity where they are being used on operational spacecraft. One concern for the designers however, is the effect of the ion exhaust plumes produced by the systems, on microwave communication with the spacecraft. To better understand these effects, a number of propagation experiments were performed at the NASA Glenn Research Center with an operating ion thruster. This report describes the experiments and presents the results of the data obtained. Lambert, Kevin M. and Zaman, Afroz J. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-1999-209276, E-11732, NAS 1.15:209276