Innovative Electric Propulsion Technology for Responsive Space

ABSTRACT: A Multi-Newton plasma thruster accelerating its propellant without the endurance limitations imposed by electrodes is proposed. The core mechanism combines electron-cyclotron resonant ionization in a microwave cavity with combinational coupling, magnetic confinement, magnetic mirrors, and a magnetic nozzle. The basic concept provides high plasma density at high power cm-mm waves and very versatile as can be scaled up to more than 100 kW power to induce multi-charged ions, and high electron temperatures producing variable high thrust to satisfy near and long term applications. The experimental setup for Phase II demonstration will use 220 kW, 0.25-2.5 & #956;s, 8.5-9.6 GHz tunable PM220 magnetron from L3 communications, ScandiNova modulator and corresponding network components. The magnetron parameters matches well & #956;s-range confinement time estimated for 1014 cm-3 plasma density and several tens eV electron temperature and simultaneously provides an additional degree of freedom to study and optimize the system performance. To our knowledge there are no other ECR plasma systems with such exceptional flexibility. BENEFIT: Successful completion of the project would provide new level of maneuverability of commercial, government and military satellites, allowing them to remain in orbit longer, be launched on smaller or cheaper rockets, or carry larger payloads. The project will fill the gap of high power, high thrust electric propulsion systems that required to quickly change the positions of satellites and planetary probes. Longer lifetime, higher performance, compactization, and robustness will reduce the costs related to the corresponding space system launching and operation. In addition to the military there are also very substantial commercial markets: industrial plasma processing systems, compact plasma-based sources of X-ray and neutron radiations used in non-destructive testing, in geology for logging of wells and homeland security applications for inspection.