Critical conditions of condensation of metal working medium of electric propulsion on spacecraft surfaces

Abstract

An experimental method for determination of critical conditions of condensation of metal propellants of electric jet engines (EJEs) on the surfaces of materials of spacecraft thermoregulating covers is presented. When the critical conditions are reached, the irreversible process of condensation and formation of thin metal films begins on spacecraft surfaces. A rather high accuracy and universality of the method for metal working media and for various surface materials are based on measurements of the intensity of a light beam generated by a stabilized source and reflected from the surface. The working capacity of the method is demonstrated for measurements carried out for four different materials of the surfaces of thermoregulating covers and cesium vapors.