Accession Number:

AD0871427

Title:

Charged Droplet Electrostatic Thruster Systems

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept. 1 Jan 1969-30 Jan 1970

Corporate Author:

TRW SYSTEMS GROUP REDONDO BEACH CA

Personal Author(s):

• Shelton, Haywood
• Lear, Charles W.
• Kidd, Phillip W.
• Huberman, Marshall N.
• Farber, Bertrand F.
• Krieve, Walter F.

Report Date:

1970-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

251.0

Abstract:

A program to develop and advance the technology needed for practical colloid propulsion flight system is described. A 100-micropound, 1500-second specific impulse, vectorable colloid thruster concept has been developed and tested. Several neutralizer concepts and their interactions with the colloid beam plasma potential are discussed. Direct thrust measurements have been correlated with time-of-flight calculations for various 100-micropound colloid thruster concepts. Several propellants, including liquid metals, have been investigated. The feasibility of pulsed and AC colloid propulsion has been investigated. Various single-needle colloid experiments were performed. A preliminary power conditioning approach for a 1-millipound, orthogonally thrust vectorable colloid system has been developed. The anticipated effects of synchronous orbit solar radiation on needle operating temperature have been examined.

Descriptors:

• *ION ENGINES
• EXPERIMENTAL DATA
• NEUTRALIZATION
• THERMAL ANALYSIS
• FEASIBILITY STUDIES
• PULSES
• COLLOIDS
• THRUST
• THRUST VECTOR CONTROL SYSTEMS
• SPECIFIC IMPULSE
• ROCKET PROPELLANTS
• LIQUID METALS
• SPACE PROPULSION

Subject Categories:

• Electric and Ion Propulsion

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE