Design and development of a thermo-ionic electric thrustor Final report, 30 Apr. 1964 - 11 Jan. 1966
Design and development of thermionic electric thrustor
SEARCH · Search NASA
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Design and development of thermionic electric thrustor
Mercury bombardment permanent magnet Kaufman thrustor using hollow cathode for SERT 2 mission, discussing performance characteristics and configurations
Design engineering and evaluation of throttlable thrustor system
High temperature LM cathode ion thrustors
Radiation cooled MPD arc thrustor design and performance, noting specific impulse relation to arc spoke rotation frequencies
Power conditioner for use with SERT II mercury ion thrustor, describing electrical and mechanical design and operation
Design and performance of space storable liquid FLOX methane thrustor of refractory composite materials
Throttleable thrustor system design with low chamber pressure
Thrustors for cryogenic reaction control systems
High voltage insulators for direct current in acceleration system of electrostatic thrustor
Developing throttleable monopropellant hydrazine thrustor system for planetary landing vehicles
Catalytic hydrazine thrustor design, fabrication and testing for TOPS spacecraft single-axis attitude control simulation program
Wind tunnel tests to determine the mechanisms involved in producing the high local heating rates in and around the thrustor nozzle in a non-firing condition are reported. The geometry of a typical nozzle installation is described. Procedures for reducing the effects of hypersonic flow interactions in order to prevent excess local heating are explained.
A single grid accelerator system for an ion thrustor is discussed. A layer of dielectric material is interposed between this metal grid and the chamber containing an ionized propellant for protecting the grid against sputtering erosion.
A satellite experiment to test the predicted relativistic precession of a gyroscope moving through a gravitational field has been under development at Stanford University for a number of years. The instruments will be located in a liquid helium bath to insure dimensional stability and to permit using superconducting types of circuitry for readout of the gyro orientation. Heat leaks in the system cause the helium to boil and the resultant helium gas is used for attitude control. The principal subject of the paper is the design and experimental evaluation of an electromagnetically actuated differential thrustor which was built and tested at Stanford University. The results are unique because most propulsion systems operate on-off in order to utilize propellant efficiently. In this case, the gas must flow continually to provide cooling, and the requirements are primarily for low power, small volume, and high reliability.
Two flight-type 1.4-kW hydrazine arcjet systems developed and tested under Lewis program. Each consists of thrustor, gas generator, and power-processing unit. Performance significantly improved. Technology transferred to user community, and first commercial flight anticipated in 1993.
MPD plasma accelerator for spacecraft propulsion system, performance data and proposed acceleration mechanisms
Ion engine satellite control system noting design and laboratory tests