The ion engine is the most-advanced type of electric propulsion system. In consideration of its application to the primary propulsion system of an orbit transfer vehicle, it has become necessary to develop an ion engine with higher thrust. Research and development of a 30-cm diameter ring-cusp xenon ion engine has begun as a cooperative project between the National Aerospace Laboratory and Toshiba Corporation. An ion engine has been designed which produces a thrust of 150 mN and a specific impulse of 3,500s at an exhaust beam energy of 1 keV. The first laboratory model functioned successfully in terms of its thrust and specific impulse performance.
Research and Development of Primary Xenon Ion Engine
1990
5 pages
Report
No indication
English
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