Arcjet rocket

About: Arcjet rocket is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1121 publications have been published within this topic receiving 9687 citations. The topic is also known as: Arcjet.

An overview of a solar thermal propulsion and power system demonstration applicable to heds

Abstract: One of the key requirements for future HEDS missions will be the simple generation of reliable propulsion and power. A possible solution to this problem will be described. An overview will be given of a solar propulsion and power system experiment that could be demonstrated as an ISS payload. The experiment will use a focusing solar energy collection system to heat multiple dynamic engine and solar thermal receivers. In addition to the clean burning solar thermal engine, the dynamically generated power will in turn power a variety of electric propulsion systems being investigated by the NASA for International Space Station (ISS) reboost, potentially including Arcjet, Hall, ion, and Variable Specific Impulse Magneto Plasma (VaSIMR) engines. The dynamic power system demonstrations will validate one or more very high efficiency methods of power production that should be of interest to a variety of high power space applications envisioned for the next decade including Space Based Radar, broadband communication satellites and second generation power production on the ISS itself.

On-Orbit Optical Observations of Electric Propulsion Space Experiment 26-Kilowatt Arcjet

Abstract: During the course of eight flight firings of the ESEX 26-kW arcjet in March and April 1999, optical observations from onboard and ground-based sensors were obtained. Images of the thruster plume at 656 nm confirm expectations that the plume luminescence in the space environment is more compact than that from a thruster operated in the laboratory at higher background pressure. Observations using a ground-based telescope reveal blackbody and line emission spectrum over the range 325-675 nm. The spectral features are consistent with ground tests. Line ratios observed in flight show a moderately higher degree of excitation than ground tests, which is consistent both with the higher specific power and the less collisional plume expansion of the flight test compared to ground tests.