Electric propulsion works in Japan

Abstract

The R & D works on MPD thruster system and ion engine system in Japan are reviewed. A 1 kW class MPD thruster system, for which the flight test will be made onboard a small space platform in early 1990's, has experienced preliminary endurance tests of 1 million shots twice. From these tests, thermal control system, automated operation system and electrode mass loss assessment were established. A 20 mN class xenon ion engine system was determined to be developed and be tested onboard the ETS-VI to be launched by a H-II rocket in 1992. 500 hour operation tests of the thruster were conducted and showed the reduction of erosion rates of accelerator grid, etc. whose surfaces were coated with low sputter materials. A system interface tests were also made to see the compatibilities between subsystems. Performance improvement studies of xenon ion thruster and its test facility are going on.