Abstract
The radio-frequency (rf) ion thruster KIT 10, using mercury as propellant, has been developed for north-south stationkeeping of communication satellites. For that reason, the applicability of KIT 10 is questioned due to the toxicity and some other negative properties of mercury. The goal of the reported tests is to study in what respects the KIT 10 system could be operated using inert gases as propellants instead of mercury. Xenon, krypton, and argon have been selected as alternative propellants. After the feed line of the KIT 10 has been modified, the complete performance data have been measured for three inert gases. The tests demonstrate that mercury is interchangeable with xenon, losing only a few percent efficiency. Operation of the KIT 10 system with krypton or argon results in rather low efficiencies; and adaption of the KIT system to these propellants is necessary.
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