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Operation of a plasma thruster featuring a 1.1 T high temperature superconducting magnet.
- Source :
- Journal of Electric Propulsion; 9/13/2024, Vol. 3 Issue 1, p1-13, 13p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Increasingly ambitious space missions rely upon the advancement of propulsion systems, and innovations in electric propulsion represent a vital step toward potential solutions. Electric propulsion research has indicated improved thruster performance at higher magnetic fields, but real-world implementations have been encumbered by available magnet technology. In this study, a new class of superconducting magnet designed for such space applications is demonstrated. A central cathode electrostatic thruster was paired with a conduction cooled high temperature superconducting magnet operated in non-pulsed mode. Using Xe propellant, thrust of 38–73 mN was measured at a central bore magnetic field of 1.13 T and on-anode field of 1.28 T, and the thruster's specific impulse was throttled between 1050s and 1450s. The peak thruster efficiency was 18.7%, inclusive of the power consumption of the magnet subsystems. This was performed without the onset of plasma instabilities, and is the first case in the literature of a high temperature superconducting plasma thruster operating at >1 T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 27314596
- Volume :
- 3
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Electric Propulsion
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 179636829
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s44205-024-00080-3