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U.S. Department of Energy
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A brief review of JPL's electric propulsion technology activities

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5649231
Near-term objectives and recent technological progress of JPL's electric propulsion program are discussed. Particular attention is given to accomplishments for ion, magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD), electron-cyclotron resonance (ECR), and arcjet thrusters. Xenon ion thruster erosion tests indicate a 15-fold reduction in tantalum baffle erosion when nitrogen is added to the xenon propellant and steady-state cylindrical MPD thruster tests at powers up to 72 kW show distinct self-constricted and diffuse discharge modes. An ECR thruster was operated at up to 7 kW with plasma acceleration at energies up to 7 kW; there was plasma acceleration at energies approaching 100 electron volts. 8 refs.
OSTI ID:
5649231
Report Number(s):
AIAA-Paper--89-2493; CONF-8907118--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English