Abstract
Propulsion requirements for large platform orbit raising, cargo and piloted planetary missions, and robotic deep space exploration have rekindled interest in the development and deployment of high power electromagnetic thrusters. Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters can effectively process megawatts of power over a broad range of specific impulse values to meet these diverse in-space propulsion requirements. As NASA's lead center for electric propulsion, the Glenn Research Center has established a MW-class pulsed thruster test facility and is refurbishing a high-power steady-state facility to design, build, and test efficient gas-fed MPD thrusters. A complimentary numerical modeling effort based on the robust MACH2 code provides a well-balanced program of numerical analysis and experimental validation leading to improved high power MPD thruster performance. This paper reviews the current and planned experimental facilities and numerical modeling capabilities at the Glenn Research Center, and outlines program plans for the development of new, efficient high power MPD thrusters.
Original language | English (US) |
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DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | 37th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit 2001 - Salt Lake City, UT, United States Duration: Jul 8 2001 → Jul 11 2001 |
Other
Other | 37th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit 2001 |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | Salt Lake City, UT |
Period | 7/8/01 → 7/11/01 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Aerospace Engineering
- Control and Systems Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering