Further Testing Of Pulsed Coaxial Ablative Thrusters*

A. Orlandi et al. (1990), JBIS, 43, pp.443-450

Refcode: 1990.43.443

Abstract:

In 1982 SNIA BPD started an ESA sponsored programme aimed at the industrial development of MPD thruster propulsion systems for primary and auxiliary space missions. Testing activities carried out to date have been mainly focused on the development of QS Coaxial Ablative MPD thrusters (figs 1,2). These thrusters are operated at current levels in the order of
10 to 30 k.A, with pulse durations of some fractions of ms, and are mainly intended for auxiliary applications like the NSSK of large geostationary satellites. During the first phase of the programme the thrusters were tested to study the effects of geometrical parameters on
thruster performance; the results provided velocity in the range of 20,000 to 30,000 mis and inferred efficiencies in excess of 30 per cent. To complete the study of this type of thruster a new phase of experimental activities has been started with the purpose of improving the accuracy of the measurements in order to obtain the best definition of the performance level.
The complete characterisation of the various thruster configurations is currently under way.