Showing papers on "Arcjet rocket published in 1978"

Transitional Behavior of MPD Arcjet Operation

Abstract: The thrust and discharge voltage of a quasisteady MPD arcjet have been measured, with emphasis on the transitional characteristics from the propellant over-fed to starved condition and from aerodynamic to electromagnetic acceleration. From the anode and cathode potential measurements, the transition into the starved condition was found to be preceded slightly by the transition of acceleration process when the discharge current was increased. At the beginning of the electromagnetic acceleration, the thrust became unstable. This was attributable to radial current expansion toward the outer anode region. At higher discharge current, the flow pattern settled and the quasisteady state was restored.

Reinforced carbon-carbon oxidation behavior in convective and radiative environments

Abstract: Reinforced carbon-carbon, which is used as thermal protection on the space shuttle orbiter wing leading edges and nose cap, was tested in both radiant and plasma arcjet heating test facilities The test series was conducted at varying temperatures and pressures Samples tested in the plasma arcjet facility had consistently higher mass loss than those samples tested in the radiant facility A method using the mass loss data is suggested for predicting mission mass loss for specific locations on the Orbiter