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Farfield Ion Current Density Measurements before and after the NASA HiVHAc EDU2 Vibration TestThere is an increasing need to characterize the plasma plume of the NASA HiVHAc thruster in order to better understand the plasma physics and to obtain data for spacecraft interaction studies. To address this need, the HiVHAc research team is in the process of developing a number of plume diagnostic systems. This paper presents the initial results of the farfield current density probe diagnostic system. Farfield current density measurements were carried out before and after a vibration test of the HiVHAc engineering development unit 2 that simulate typical launch conditions. The main purposes of the current density measurements were to evaluate the thruster plume divergence and to investigate any changes in the plasma plume that may occur as a result of the vibration test. Radial sweeps, as opposed to the traditional polar sweeps, were performed during these tests. The charged-weighted divergence angles were found to vary from 16 to 28 degrees. Charge density profiles measured pre- and post-vibration-test were found to be in excellent agreement. This result, alongside thrust measurements reported in a companion paper, confirm that the operation of the HiVHAc engineering development unit 2 were not altered by full-level/random vibration testing.
Document ID
20120014595
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Huang, Wensheng (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Kamhawi, Hani (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Shastry, Rohit (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 26, 2013
Publication Date
July 29, 2012
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
E-18401
AIAA Paper 2012-4195
Meeting Information
Meeting: 48th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit
Location: Atlanta, GA
Country: United States
Start Date: July 30, 2012
End Date: August 1, 2012
Sponsors: Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., American Society for Electrical Engineers, American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 346620.04.08.01.01.01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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