An arcjet rocket or arcjet thruster is a form of electrically powered spacecraft propulsion, in which an electrical discharge (arc) is created in a flow of propellant[1][2] (typically hydrazine or ammonia). This imparts additional energy to the propellant, so that one can extract more work out of each kilogram of propellant, at the expense of increased power consumption and (usually) higher cost. Also, the thrust levels available from typically used arcjet engines are very low compared with chemical engines.
When the energy is available, arcjets are well suited to keeping stations in orbit and can replace monopropellant rockets.
Aerojet MR-510 series arcjet engines are currently used on Lockheed Martin A2100 satellites using hydrazine as a propellant,[3] providing over 585 s average specific impulse at 2 kW.[4]
In Germany, researchers at the University of Stuttgart's Institute of Space Aviation Systems have been looking into these challenges for years and have developed various hydrogen-powered arcjet engines capable of power outputs from 1 to 100 kW. The heated hydrogen reaches exit speeds of 16 kilometres per second (9.9 mi/s). An arcjet-propelled test satellite by the name of Baden-Württemberg 1 (BW1) was scheduled to go to the Moon by 2010. No such launch has yet occurred. Baden-Württemberg 1 would have used polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) propellant.[5]
Referencesedit
^John, R. R., Bennett, S., and Connors, J. P., "Arcjet Engine Performance: Experiment and Theory," AIAA Journal, Vol. 1, No. 11, Nov. 1963. http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/pdf/10.2514/3.2103
^Wallner, Lewis E. and Czika, Joseph, Jr, , NASA Technical note TN D-2868, NASA Lewis Research Center, June 1965 (accessed September 8 2014)
^"Lockheed Martin Awards Aerojet Rocketdyne Contract to Provide Propulsion Subsystems on A2100 Satellites". Nasdaq. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
^30 Years of Electric Propulsion Flight Experience at Aerojet Rocketdyne. 33rd International Electric Propulsion Conference. p. 3.
^Bietigheim-Bissingen, 11/20/2008 March 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
Further readingedit
Lichtbogenantriebe für Weltraumaufgaben (Arcjet propulsion systems for space applications), Prof. Monika Auweter-Kurtz, B.G. Teubner Stuttgart 1992 Institute of Space Systems at the University of Stuttgart
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
arcjet, rocket, arcjet, rocket, arcjet, thruster, form, electrically, powered, spacecraft, propulsion, which, electrical, discharge, created, flow, propellant, typically, hydrazine, ammonia, this, imparts, additional, energy, propellant, that, extract, more, w. An arcjet rocket or arcjet thruster is a form of electrically powered spacecraft propulsion in which an electrical discharge arc is created in a flow of propellant 1 2 typically hydrazine or ammonia This imparts additional energy to the propellant so that one can extract more work out of each kilogram of propellant at the expense of increased power consumption and usually higher cost Also the thrust levels available from typically used arcjet engines are very low compared with chemical engines When the energy is available arcjets are well suited to keeping stations in orbit and can replace monopropellant rockets Aerojet MR 510 series arcjet engines are currently used on Lockheed Martin A2100 satellites using hydrazine as a propellant 3 providing over 585 s average specific impulse at 2 kW 4 In Germany researchers at the University of Stuttgart s Institute of Space Aviation Systems have been looking into these challenges for years and have developed various hydrogen powered arcjet engines capable of power outputs from 1 to 100 kW The heated hydrogen reaches exit speeds of 16 kilometres per second 9 9 mi s An arcjet propelled test satellite by the name of Baden Wurttemberg 1 BW1 was scheduled to go to the Moon by 2010 No such launch has yet occurred Baden Wurttemberg 1 would have used polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE propellant 5 References edit John R R Bennett S and Connors J P Arcjet Engine Performance Experiment and Theory AIAA Journal Vol 1 No 11 Nov 1963 http arc aiaa org doi pdf 10 2514 3 2103 Wallner Lewis E and Czika Joseph Jr ARC Jet Thrustor for Space Propulsion NASA Technical note TN D 2868 NASA Lewis Research Center June 1965 accessed September 8 2014 Lockheed Martin Awards Aerojet Rocketdyne Contract to Provide Propulsion Subsystems on A2100 Satellites Nasdaq Retrieved 13 August 2015 30 Years of Electric Propulsion Flight Experience at Aerojet Rocketdyne 33rd International Electric Propulsion Conference p 3 Bietigheim Bissingen 11 20 2008 Archived March 18 2014 at the Wayback MachineFurther reading editLichtbogenantriebe fur Weltraumaufgaben Arcjet propulsion systems for space applications Prof Monika Auweter Kurtz B G Teubner Stuttgart 1992 Institute of Space Systems at the University of Stuttgart Arcjet Lichtbogentriebwerk External links editAerojet Rocketdyne Arcjet thruster vendor Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arcjet rocket amp oldid 1220902990, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
