Abstract
DLR operates the High Vacuum Plume Test Facility Göttingen – Electric Thrusters (STG-ET). This electric propulsion test facility has now accumulated several years of EP-thruster testing experience. Special features tailored to electric space propulsion testing like a large vacuum chamber mounted on a low vibration foundation, a beam dump target with low sputtering, and a performant pumping system characterize this facility. The vacuum chamber is 12.2m long and has a diameter of 5m. With respect to accurate thruster testing, the design focus is on accurate thrust measurement, plume diagnostics, and plume interaction with spacecraft components. Electric propulsion thrusters have to run for thousands of hours, and with this the facility is prepared for long-term experiments. This paper gives an overview of the facility, and shows some details of the vacuum chamber, pumping system, diagnostics, and experiences with these components. New version available: DLR Institute of Aerodynamics and Technology. (2018). STG-ET: DLR Electric Propulsion Test Facility. Journal of large-scale research facilities, 4, A134. http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-3-156-1
Highlights
For performing maneuvers in space, satellites and spacecraft need propulsion systems
The actual developments in electric propulsion for commercial application aim at orbit transfer with electric thrusters, and with this the development goes into the direction of more powerful engines
Since the end of 2011 DLR operates a space propulsion test facility speci cally designed for EP, the High Vacuum Plume Test Facility Göttingen – Electric Thrusters (STG-ET)
Summary
For performing maneuvers in space, satellites and spacecraft need propulsion systems. Besides chemical or cold gas thrusters, nowadays electric propulsion devices are often employed for attitude control. The actual developments in electric propulsion for commercial application aim at orbit transfer with electric thrusters, and with this the development goes into the direction of more powerful engines. As the absolute thrust values of electric thrusters, especially of ion propulsion systems, are rather low these thrusters have to run for much longer times for ful lling missions, i.e. thousands of hours. With respect to ground testing for these thrusters, a dedicated test facility has to be prepared for such long-term experiments
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