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U.S. Department of Energy
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AN ION ROCKET WITH AN ELECTRON-BOMBARDMENT ION SOURCE

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4076793
An ion-rocket engine with a 10-cm dinmeter electronbombardment ion source was investigated. Theoretical and experimental results are presented. Mercury ion exhaust beams up to 0.06 amp were obtalned with over-all engine power efficiencies of 0.27 to 0.33 at specific impulses from 4500 to 5500 sec. Use of a more efficient field coil to generate the small magnetic fiehi required could increase these values to abcut 0.40 and 0.45. Further increases in efficiency appear likely by the improvement of other comporents. Propellant-utilization efficiencies were as high as 0.80. An electron-bomhardment inn source appears to be one of the most promising for ion rockets. (auth)
Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Lewis Research Center, Cleveland
NSA Number:
NSA-15-011760
OSTI ID:
4076793
Report Number(s):
NASA-TN-D-585
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English