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High Thrust-to-Power Annular Engine Technology Gridded ion engines have the highest efficiency and total impulse of any mature electric propulsion technology, and have been successfully implemented for primary propulsion in both geocentric and heliocentric environments with excellent ground/in-space correlation of performance. However, they have not been optimized to maximize thrust-to-power, an important parameter for Earth orbit transfer applications. This publication discusses technology development work intended to maximize this parameter. These activities include investigating the capabilities of a non-conventional design approach, the annular engine, which has the potential of exceeding the thrust-to-power of other EP technologies. This publication discusses the status of this work, including the fabrication and initial tests of a large-area annular engine. This work is being conducted in collaboration among NASA Glenn Research Center, The Aerospace Corporation, and the University of Michigan.
Document ID
20150023039
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Patterson, Michael J.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Thomas, Robert E.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Crofton, Mark W.
(Aerospace Corp. El Segundo, CA, United States)
Young, Jason A.
(Aerospace Corp. El Segundo, CA, United States)
Foster, John E.
(Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Date Acquired
December 15, 2015
Publication Date
July 27, 2015
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN24734
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: July 27, 2015
End Date: July 29, 2015
Sponsors: American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 736466.01.08.03.08.40
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Thruster
Electric Propulsion
Advanced Propulsion
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