Ten Megawatt RF Plasma Thruster

A high power RF plasma thruster is proposed. A point design is presented capable of ten megawatts with onlya thirty centimeter diameter plasma diameter and less than five meters long. Subscale tests are planned to verifyplasma separation from field lines, necessary for thruster feasibility. Plasma density versus magnetic field, RF power, and other parameters will also be compared with the model of operation, allowing extrapolation of plasmaparameters to the ten megawatt level. The RF plasma thruster offers very high thrust density, no grids or electrodesto limit lifetime or create contamination problems, variable specific impulse, and a simple design with no close tolerances which can be cheaply manufactured.