A Critical History of Electric Propulsion: The First Fifty Years (1906-1956)

Abstract

Nomenclature a = Vehicle acceleration A = Beam cross-sectional area i ≡ p/V = Current per unit vehicle mass j = Current density M v = Vehicle masṡ m = Propellant mass flow rate P = Input electric power p ≡ P/M v = Input electric power per unit vehicle mass T = Thrust u ex = Rocket exhaust velocity V = Voltage η = Thrust efficiency * Chair of AIAA's