Engineering topics

Saunders, Winston A.

Publications and source records attributed to Saunders, Winston A..

3 records

NASA NTRS1993

Electric propulsion using C.sub.60 molecules

Fullerene propellants, which are stable carbon cage structures composed of even numbers of carbon atoms in the range of about 32 to 200 atoms, particularly a combination of conveniently obtainable C.sub.60 and C.sub.70, may be carried in solid form in a spacecraft, sublimated to produce the appropriate molecular propellant such as C.sub.60 or C.sub.70, which may then be ionized by DC discharge or RF radiation to efficiently produce specific impulses in the range above 1000 lbf -s/lbm.

Leifer, Stephanie D.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Electrostatic Propulsion Using C60 Molecules

Report proposes use of C60 as propellant material in electrostatic propulsion system of spacecraft. C60, C70, and similar molecules, have recently been found to have characteristics proving advantageous in electrostatic propulsion. Report discusses these characteristics and proposes experiments to determine feasibility of concept.

Leifer, Stephanie D.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Electrostatic propulsion using C60 molecules

An evaluation is made of the potential benefits of C60 molecules as a basis for ion propulsion. Because C60 is storable, its use may result in a larger usable propellant fraction than previous methods of cluster ion propulsion. C60 may also relax such engineering constraints as grid spacing, which restrict the performance of noble gas ion propulsion. The behavior of C60 in a plasma discharge environment, as well as various electron impact cross sections of the molecule, will greatly afftect the feasibility of the concept.

Leifer, Stephanie D.↗