NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Collections About News Help Login
Back to Results
Performance Evaluation of Titanium Ion Optics for the NASA 30 cm Ion ThrusterThe results of performance tests with titanium ion optics were presented and compared to those of molybdenum ion optics. Both titanium and molybdenum ion optics were initially operated until ion optics performance parameters achieved steady state values. Afterwards, performance characterizations were conducted. This permitted proper performance comparisons of titanium and molybdenum ion optics. Ion optics' performance A,as characterized over a broad thruster input power range of 0.5 to 3.0 kW. All performance parameters for titanium ion optics of achieved steady state values after processing 1200 gm of propellant. Molybdenum ion optics exhibited no burn-in. Impingement-limited total voltages for titanium ion optics where up to 55 V greater than those for molybdenum ion optics. Comparisons of electron backstreaming limits as a function of peak beam current density for molybdenum and titanium ion optics demonstrated that titanium ion optics operated with a higher electron backstreaming limit than molybdenum ion optics for a given peak beam current density. Screen grid ion transparencies for titanium ion optics were as much as 3.8 percent lower than those for molybdenum ion optics. Beam divergence half-angles that enclosed 95 percent of the total beam current for titanium ion optics were within 1 to 3 deg. of those for molybdenum ion optics. All beam divergence thrust correction factors for titanium ion optics were within 1 percent of those with molybdenum ion optics.
Document ID
20020009015
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Soulas, George C. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 2001
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
E-13073
IEPC-01-092
NASA/TM-2001-211220
NAS 1.15:211220
Meeting Information
Meeting: 27th International Electric Propulsion Conference
Location: Pasadena, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: October 14, 2001
End Date: October 19, 2001
Sponsors: Air Force Research Lab., NASA Headquarters, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA Glenn Research Center, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, Electric Rocket Propulsion Society, Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech.
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 755-B4-04
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Related Records

There are no records associated with this record.
No Preview Available