NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Annular Ion Engine Concept and Development StatusThe Annular Ion Engine (AIE) concept represents an evolutionary development in gridded ion thruster technology with the potential for delivering revolutionary capabilities. It has this potential because the AIE concept: (a) enables scaling of ion thruster technology to high power at specific impulse (Isp) values of interest for near-term mission applications, 5000 sec; and (b) it enables an increase in both thrust density and thrust-to-power (FP) ratio exceeding conventional ion thrusters and other electric propulsion (EP) technology options, thereby yielding the highest performance over a broad range in Isp. The AIE concept represents a natural progression of gridded ion thruster technology beyond the capabilities embodied by NASAs Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) [1]. The AIE would be appropriate for: (a) applications which require power levels exceeding NEXTs capabilities (up to about 14 kW [2]), with scalability potentially to 100s of kW; and/or (b) applications which require FP conditions exceeding NEXTs capabilities.
Document ID
20170000387
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Patterson, Michael J.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
January 12, 2017
Publication Date
May 2, 2016
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN31819
SP2016_ 3125294
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Propulsion 2016
Location: Rome
Country: Italy
Start Date: May 2, 2016
End Date: May 6, 2016
Sponsors: Association Aeronautique et Astronautique de France
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 432938.11.01.03.06.02.08
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
ion engine
ion thrusters
xenon thrusters
electrostatic thrusters
electric propulsion
No Preview Available