SDIO electric propulsion objectives and programs

Conference · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5649232

Caveny, L H; Vondra, R J

The objectives of an efficient electric propulsion (EP) system capable of meeting the requirements of the SDI Organization missions are discussed, with consideration given to each of the three EP applications, namely, the orbit raising, the on-orbit station-keeping, and the defensive maneuvering. Space experiments involving EP are being planned around the arcjet and ion thruster types, with the short-term research being focused on the NH3 arcjet for the SP-100 flight missions. Demonstrated 30 kW arcjet sustained life of the arcjet (as compared with less than 3 kW for the ion engine) and the arcjet's inherent simplicity offer low risk and minimum cost for the SP-100 flight demonstration objectives. Long-term research on high thrust-density ion propulsion is aimed at 5 to 25 kW operation in the 5000-sec specific impulse range. 30 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5649232
• Report Number(s): AIAA-Paper--89-2491; CONF-8907118--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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