Beam-Centroid Tracking Instrument for Ion Thrusters.

Pollard, J. E.

Beam-Centroid Tracking Instrument for Ion Thrusters.

Active / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA293654 |

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Abstract:

Thrust vector stability for an electrostatic ion engine can be measured with improved sensitivity and time resolution by the method described here. Four double-wire Langmuir probes, aligned in the form of a cross, are placed in the exhaust plume and are translated by a motorized positioning system to balance the currents collected along two orthogonal axes. The thrust vector position is thereby measured with an angular resolution of 0.01 deg and a response time of 5 s.

Author(s):

Pollard, J. E.

Author Organization(s):

AEROSPACE CORP EL SEGUNDO CA

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.,

Supplementary Note:

DOI: 10.21236/ADA293654

Pagination:

0011

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:

Approved For Public Release

RECORD

Collection: TR

Identifying Numbers

Report Number(s):

TR-94(4507)-1, SMC-TR-95-13

Contract/Grant Number(s):

F04701-93-C-0094

Monitor Series:

TR-95-13, SMC/CA

Subject Terms

Joint Capability Areas:

JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_5.3.2_Apply Situational Understanding

Modernization Areas:

Space; Quantum Science and Computing; Microelectronics

Communities of Interest:

Space

Descriptor(s):

*EXHAUST PLUMES, *ION ENGINES, ANGLES, IONS, STABILITY, RESOLUTION, LANGMUIR PROBES, XENON, THRUSTERS, THRUST VECTOR CONTROL SYSTEMS, ELECTROSTATICS, ORTHOGONALITY

Field(s)/Group(s):

Electric and Ion Propulsion

Keyword(s):

ION THRUSTERS

Report Date:

1995 Mar 20