A Microwave Thruster for Spacecraft Propulsion

Chiravalle, Vincent P¹ 

[1] Los Alamos National Laboratory

关键词: PLASMA;    PROPULSION;    ROCKET ENGINES;    THRUSTERS;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1047100
RP-ID  :  LA-UR-12-23316
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1047100
Others  :  TRN: US201216%%346

学科分类：航空航天科学

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

This presentation describes how a microwave thruster can be used for spacecraft propulsion. A microwave thruster is part of a larger class of electric propulsion devices that have higher specific impulse and lower thrust than conventional chemical rocket engines. Examples of electric propulsion devices are given in this presentation and it is shown how these devices have been used to accomplish two recent space missions. The microwave thruster is then described and it is explained how the thrust and specific impulse of the thruster can be measured. Calculations of the gas temperature and plasma properties in the microwave thruster are discussed. In addition a potential mission for the microwave thruster involving the orbit raising of a space station is explored.