Technology requirements for high-power Lithium Lorentz Force accelerators
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena, California91109 (United States)
- Research Institute of Applied Mechanics and Electrodynamics Moscow Aviation Institute 4 Volokolamskoe shosse Moscow, 125810 (Russia)
Lithium Lorentz Force Accelerators (LFA{close_quote}s) are capable of processing very high power levels and are therefore applicable to a wide range of challenging missions. An analysis of a reusable orbit transfer vehicle with a solar or nuclear electric power source was performed to assess the applicability of high-power LFA{close_quote}s to this mission and to define engine performance and lifetime goals to help guide the technology development program. For this class of missions, the emphasis must be on achieving high efficiency at an Isp of 4000{endash}5000 s at power levels of 200{endash}250 kWe. The engines must demonstrate very reliable operation for a service life of about 3000 hours. These goals appear to be achievable with engine technologies currently under development. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 627666
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970115-; ISSN 0094-243X; TRN: 98:006038
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 387, Issue 1; Conference: Space technology and applications international forum (STAIF - 97), Albuquerque, NM (United States), 26-30 Jan 1997; Other Information: PBD: Jan 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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