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EXPERIMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF AN ION ROCKET ENGINE USING A RECTANGULAR-SLAB POROUS-TUNGSTEN EMITTER

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4701212
>An ion rocket engine using a porous-tungsten ionizer was operated for more than 50 hours. The techniques of electron-beam welding and high-temperature- furnace brazing were used to assemble the ionizer. Accelerator and power efficiencies of 90 and 70 percent, respectively, were obtained at a current density of 113 amp/sq m. The power efficiency was obtained at a specific impulse of 8680 seconds. Preliminary results indicate a propellant utilization efficiency of about 90 percent. (auth)
Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Lewis Research Center, Cleveland
NSA Number:
NSA-17-025385
OSTI ID:
4701212
Report Number(s):
NASA-TN-D-1321
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English