Further testing of pulsed coaxial ablative thrusters
The performance characterization of a family of MPD thrusters is being conducted. The laboratory devices currently under testing are of coaxial Teflon-fed type, operated in quasi-steady mode. Velocity measurements of the ionized components of the exhaust jet are currently obtained by a fully automatic process. The signals, generated by the local plasma fluctuations during the passage of the exhaust jet through a pair of biased double electrostatic probes, are recorded by a data acquisition system. An original cross-correlation technique is employed to compute the ionized component velocities. In order to confirm the values of the inferred efficiencies, a thrust stand has been designed and manufactured; in this way, it is possible to measure directly the impulse bit of pulsed thrusters. 5 references.
- Research Organization:
- SNIA BPD S.p.A., Colleferro, Italy; Pisa Universita, Italy
- OSTI ID:
- 6187439
- Report Number(s):
- AIAA-Paper-8-1044; CONF-870558-
- Journal Information:
- AIAA Pap.; (United States), Journal Name: AIAA Pap.; (United States); ISSN AAPRA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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