Article

Cover

Title

Application of electric thrusters in a spacecraft propulsion system

Authors

^1,2N.E. Kovalenko, ^1,2A.A. Vnukov

Organizations

¹Siberian Federal University
Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation
²JSC «Academician M. F. Reshetnev» Information Satellite Systems»
Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk region, Russian Federation

Abstract

The place of electric rocket thrusters in a spacecraft propulsion system is pointed out; the tasks for such propulsion system are described. The modern classification of electric thrusters is given, in accordance of that one there are four classes, dissimilar due to a nature of processes that impart a kinetic energy to a propellant: electrothermal, electrostatic, pulsed and magnetoplasmodynamic. In order to illustrate an electric rocket thrusters sate of art, examples different classes electric rocket thrusters for modern spacecrafts are presented; the technical characteristics, such a thrust, specific impulse, powered energy and efficiency are systematized. As a general electric rocket thrusters for spacecraft propulsion system were chosen electrostatic thrusters: stationary plasma (Hall thrusters) and ion thusters. For the different classes of electric rocket thrusters the common characteristics are defined as a set of: specific impulse (that describes thruster propellant efficiency), thrust cost (determines electric power consumption per unit thrust) and propellant type (combines thruster’s technical and economical characteristics). A necessity is stated to take into account the cost parameters of an electric rocket thruster design and a manufacturing during a propulsion system developing for a next generation spacecraft. The tasks are determined for the further research in the area of a techno-economic efficiency of electric rocket thrusters exploiting as a part of a spacecraft’s propulsion system.

Keywords

spacecraft, propulsion system, electric rocket thruster, electric rocket thrusters classification, techno-economic efficiency

References

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For citing this article

Kovalenko N.E., Vnukov A.A. Application of electric thrusters in a spacecraft propulsion system // Spacecrafts & Technologies, 2022, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 83-89. doi: 10.26732/j.st.2022.2.02

This Article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).