SERT-1 (Space Electric Rocket Test) was a NASA probe used to test electrostatic ion thruster design and was built by NASA's Lewis Research Center (now NASA Glenn). SERT-1 was the first spacecraft to utilize ion engine design.[1] It was launched on July 20, 1964 on a Scout rocket.[2] It carried two electric propulsion engines; of the two, the first, an electron-bombardment ion engine ("Kaufman ion thruster") was run for a total of 31 minutes and 16 seconds. This was the first time that an ion engine of any type had been operated in space, and demonstrated that the neutralizer worked as predicted. (A second thruster, of a different type, failed to operate.)
SERT-1
SERT-1's Program Manager, Raymond J. Rulis examining the spacecraft
The test was followed by the SERT-II probe, launched into a 1000-km-high polar orbit on February 3, 1970,[3][4] which demonstrated two mercury thrusters operating for 2011 hrs and 3781 hrs in space. Up to 300 thruster restarts were demonstrated.
The SERT rocket tests demonstrated ion engine technology that was later used on the Deep Space 1 probe and later missions.
Technical PapersEdit
Sovey, J. S., Rawlin, V. K., and Patterson, M. J.: "Ion Propulsion Development Projects in U. S.: Space Electric Rocket Test 1 to Deep Space 1," Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 17, No. 3, May–June 2001, pp. 517–526.
RCA Astro-Electronics Division, SUMMARY REPORT on the DEVELOPMENT OF THE SERT I SPACECRAFT, NASA CR-54243 available at NTIS (accessed May 11, 2012).
ReferencesEdit
^"Contributions to Deep Space 1". NASA. from the original on 2023-04-10.
^Cybulski, Ronald J.; Shellhammer, Daniel M.; Lovell, Robert R.; Domino, Edward J.; Kotnik, Joseph T. (1965). "Results from SERT I Ion Rocket Flight Test" (PDF). NASA. NASA-TN-D-2718.
^SERT 2010-10-25 at the Wayback Machine page at Astronautix (Accessed July 1, 2010)
External linksEdit
A spacecraft for Ion thrustor tests, Pre-mission report for SERT-1
Development of the SERT-1 Spacecraft, Summary Report
Description and Operation of spacecraft in SERT-1 ion thrustor flight test
Results from SERT-1 ion rocket flight test
Thrust measurement of SERT-1 ion thrustors
October 19, 2023
sert, space, electric, rocket, test, nasa, probe, used, test, electrostatic, thruster, design, built, nasa, lewis, research, center, nasa, glenn, first, spacecraft, utilize, engine, design, launched, july, 1964, scout, rocket, carried, electric, propulsion, en. SERT 1 Space Electric Rocket Test was a NASA probe used to test electrostatic ion thruster design and was built by NASA s Lewis Research Center now NASA Glenn SERT 1 was the first spacecraft to utilize ion engine design 1 It was launched on July 20 1964 on a Scout rocket 2 It carried two electric propulsion engines of the two the first an electron bombardment ion engine Kaufman ion thruster was run for a total of 31 minutes and 16 seconds This was the first time that an ion engine of any type had been operated in space and demonstrated that the neutralizer worked as predicted A second thruster of a different type failed to operate SERT 1SERT 1 s Program Manager Raymond J Rulis examining the spacecraftMission typeTechnologyOperatorNASAApogee4 002 kilometres 2 487 mi Spacecraft propertiesManufacturerNASA Lewis Research CenterStart of missionLaunch dateJuly 20 1964 10 53 1964 07 20UTC10 53Z UTCRocketScout X 4Launch siteWallops LA 3A The test was followed by the SERT II probe launched into a 1000 km high polar orbit on February 3 1970 3 4 which demonstrated two mercury thrusters operating for 2011 hrs and 3781 hrs in space Up to 300 thruster restarts were demonstrated The SERT rocket tests demonstrated ion engine technology that was later used on the Deep Space 1 probe and later missions Technical Papers EditSovey J S Rawlin V K and Patterson M J Ion Propulsion Development Projects in U S Space Electric Rocket Test 1 to Deep Space 1 Journal of Propulsion and Power Vol 17 No 3 May June 2001 pp 517 526 RCA Astro Electronics Division SUMMARY REPORT on the DEVELOPMENT OF THE SERT I SPACECRAFT NASA CR 54243 available at NTIS accessed May 11 2012 References Edit Contributions to Deep Space 1 NASA Archived from the original on 2023 04 10 Cybulski Ronald J Shellhammer Daniel M Lovell Robert R Domino Edward J Kotnik Joseph T 1965 Results from SERT I Ion Rocket Flight Test PDF NASA NASA TN D 2718 NASA Glenn SPACE ELECTRIC ROCKET TEST II SERT II Accessed July 1 2010 SERT Archived 2010 10 25 at the Wayback Machine page at Astronautix Accessed July 1 2010 External links EditGlen Research Center page on the SERT 1 mission A spacecraft for Ion thrustor tests Pre mission report for SERT 1 Development of the SERT 1 Spacecraft Summary Report Description and Operation of spacecraft in SERT 1 ion thrustor flight test Results from SERT 1 ion rocket flight test Thrust measurement of SERT 1 ion thrustors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SERT 1 amp oldid 1167745034, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
