Abstract
Two electric propulsion concepts have been developed at Technische Universität Dresden as spin-off devices of regular hollow cathodes and initial testing has been conducted. Both devices represent millinewton thrusters that take advantage of thermionic electron emission using the low work function materials C12A7, LaB6, and thoriated tungsten in different design configurations. The first concept represents an electrothermal thruster which generates thrust by expanding and accelerating a heated propellant in a nozzle. Initial thrust measurement tests were carried out which showed thrust levels well above cold gas thrust, but low thrust efficiencies. The influence of different geometric parameters on the discharge properties and the performance is investigated and presented. The second thruster concept is a novel electromagnetic device in which charge carriers in a plasma discharge are accelerated by an applied magnetic field that is orthogonally oriented to the discharge current. Initial tests with C12A7 were not successful, but the functionality of the concept was shown by thrust measurements using a thoriated tungsten wire as an electron emitter.
Highlights
Hollow cathodes are an essential part of electric propulsion systems and have been the subject of extensive theoretical and experimental research for decades
As part of the H2020 E.T.Pack project that aims at developing a de-orbit kit for spacecraft using an electrodynamic tether, research on hollow cathodes and spin-off devices using the low work function material C12A7 is being conducted at Technische Universität Dresden
The idea of a hollow cathode thruster was based on early observations of high energetic ions produced in hollow cathodes [3, 4] and a high degree of ionization in the orifice region, that represent possible thrust production mechanisms, and could qualify hollow cathodes as simple stand-alone electric propulsion systems [5]
Summary
Hollow cathodes are an essential part of electric propulsion systems and have been the subject of extensive theoretical and experimental research for decades. The technological maturity of hollow cathodes is attractive for stand-alone spin-off devices that could be of interest in various fields of application in the space industry. As part of the H2020 E.T.Pack project that aims at developing a de-orbit kit for spacecraft using an electrodynamic tether, research on hollow cathodes and spin-off devices using the low work function material C12A7 is being conducted at Technische Universität Dresden. In this context, two different propulsion concepts have been designed and.
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