Thrust and Performance Study of Micro Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781288318636)

This research is focused on several areas of the μPPT performance. An important idea studied is the effect of lifetime use on the performance. The thruster is fired for a simulated lifetime of use to see if there is an impact on the thrust of the thruster later in life. Also vital is the efficiency of the thruster. A μPPT performing at max efficiency will ionize all ablated material; however, we know that not to be the case. In this research the effort is made to collect these non-ionized particles in order to measure their mass post-test. With this collected mass and a knowledge of how much the thruster has ablated, it can be determined what percentage of the propellant has been ionized. With the non-ionized particles also comes a concern about contamination. Knowing the amount of particles that can collect at the end of a lifetime of use allows a better understanding of what contamination issues a spacecraft may have and what precautions need to be made.

Author: Jeremy J. Selstrom
ISBN-10: 1288318634
ISBN-13: 9781288318636
Publisher: Biblioscholar
Language: English
Published: 11/19/2012
Pages: 152
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.63lbs
Size: 9.69h x 7.44w x 0.33d