Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

THEORETICAL PERFORMANCE OF REVERSE-FEED CESIUM ION ENGINES

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4843816
BS>A theoretical analysis of reverse-feed cesium ion engines indicates the values required for the various engine dimen sions in order to optimize performance, and the conditions under which this type engine is of interest for space missions. A comparison with the theoretical performance of porous-tungsten ion engines is included. The reverse-feed ion engine may possibly give higher power efficiencies at low specific impulse. Charge exchange will result in greater electrode erosion in this type engine, necessitating a mechanically complex system for replacement of electrodes. The weight of electrode material consumed will be small relative to the propellant weight. (auth)
Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Lewis Research Center, Cleveland
NSA Number:
NSA-15-027256
OSTI ID:
4843816
Report Number(s):
NASA-TN-D-876
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

A COMPARISON OF REVERSE-FEED AND POROUS-TUNGSTEN ION ENGINES
Technical Report · Wed Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1962 · OSTI ID:4801232

ION ROCKET ENGINE
Patent · Mon Dec 18 23:00:00 EST 1961 · OSTI ID:4814410

Cesium-mordenite solid electrolyte as a cesium ion source
Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988 · OSTI ID:6054664