High-frequency ion thruster equipped with a four-electrode ion optical system
Authors: Peysakhovich O.D., Melnikov A.V., Mogulkin A.I., Khartov S.A.
Published in issue: #4(160)/2025
DOI: 10.18698/2308-6033-2025-4-2442
Category: Aviation and Rocket-Space Engineering | Chapter: Thermal, Electric Jet Engines, and Power Plants of Aircrafts
The dual-mode electric rocket engines are attracting significant interest currently, as they are able to perform tasks requiring both the increased thrust and the increased specific impulse thrust. The increased thrust mode ensures the orbital tasks completion, when a flight with the minimum time expenditure is required, for example, in the orbit additional insertion and correction. The increased specific impulse thrust mode makes it possible to save the working fluid with a precise positioning and orientation in orbit. The paper presents results of assessing characteristics of a dual-mode high-frequency ion engine equipped with the four-electrode ion optical system. A feature of the considered engine configuration is an ability to operate in both the increased thrust mode and the increased specific impulse thrust mode while maintaining the total power consumption. The initial computation data includes results of the experimental study of the laboratory model characteristics of a high-frequency ion engine with a beam diameter of 80 mm and operating on the xenon.
EDN NELJOG
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