Ion plume/S-band carrier interaction study

Abstract

A study was performed to determine the effects of a mercury ion thruster plume on an S-band telecommunication carrier. Experiments were carried out on a 30 cm thruster in a JPL test chamber. Results from simple analytical models were compared with the above measurements and major discrepancies were discovered. Modifications to the electron density model provided a qualitative explanation, but further work is necessary for a quantitative answer. The results indicate the effects of the plume, on S and X Band telecommunications will be minor, with the possible exception of critical angle blockage.