Recent experimental results in RIT-engines development

Altenburg, W.; Bussweiler, K.; Freisinger, J.; Geisel, Jacob; Groh, K.; Klein, W.; Koschade, S.; Lenz, Barbara; Pinks, W.; Trojan, F.

doi:10.2514/6.1973-1083

Cited by 1 publication

(4 citation statements)

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“…At present, the RIT 35-aggregate is still in an early stage of diagnostics and optimization; however, the extrapolated experimental results as well as the scaling laws of a self-sustaining discharge indicate excellent performance data (e.g., 235 ev/ion total loss energy, 76% over-all efficiency, 19 w/mN power-to-thrust ratio, and 1.5 kg/kw mass-to-power ratio). 16 …”

Section: Primary Propulsion Ion Enginesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…20 By contrast, the rf-engine RIT 20 is also still under optimization. 16 The optimization experiments of the 122-mN aggregate ESKA 28 (3-kw class) have also not yet been completed resulting in some specific data (e.g., 451 ev/ion discharge energy) which need improvement.…”

Section: Primary Propulsion Ion Enginesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mode of working and structural elements are similar to RIT 10 S. Due to scaling laws of the self-sustaining discharge, the specific data of RIT 4 are deteriorated in comparison to the lO-'cm prototype. 16 The 5-cm linear strip cesium contact microthruster CC 1.5 of LEP, ONERA, LAAS, and SEP (Fig. 4) has a rectangular shaped porous tungsten ionizer with a curved surface and two heaters (redundancy), a multiple foil thermal shield, an acceldecel system with a focusing electrode, and two neutralizer filaments (redundancy).…”

Section: European Eps Hardware Secondary Propulsion Ion Enginesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since 1971, the stationkeeping engine RIT 10 S is under industrial development at the MBB Co., Munich. 15 At present, the R & D program is sponsored by the German Space Project Agency GfW including the following steps 16 : 1) functional, integration, and cycling tests as well as plasma and beam diagnostics at Giessen; 2) lifetests of two neutralizers and the accelerator system at Giessen; 3) 1000-hr accumulative lifetest at MBB; 4) vibration tests, development of a space-qualified electronics, and a tank-feed-system, including a propellant flowmeter at MBB and Giessen; 5) clustering experiments on the large Giessen facility (2.6-m-diam); and 6) 10,000-hr duration and cycling tests of a cluster on a new large, 2.2-m-diam, automatic facility. 17 Besides the 10-cm NSSK rf engine, which can be also used as a small primary propulsion unit, 18 the microthruster RIT 4 as well as the main propulsion aggregates RIT 20 and RIT 35 are under functional tests and optimization at Giessen University.…”

Section: West Germanymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Electric Propulsion Technology Status and Development Plans-European Programs

Loeb¹

1974

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

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Since 1960, nearly two dozen types of electric engines have been investigated and developed by 48 companies and institutes in Western Europe. At present, 220 scientists and engineers are working on 7 thruster types; about 78 test facilities and 4.6 million dollars per year are involved. The technology of the European ion engines has reached a stateof-the-art where the experimental phase could be finished and the actual use of the thrusters can be thought about. Of prime interest in this respect is the North-South stationkeeping for European communication satellites. Four industrial studies placed by ESRO indicated that the English mercury bombardment thruster T 4 and the German mercury rf-engine RIT 10 S are best suited. Moreover, two French, three German, and an ESRO microthruster are under development. Primary propulsion engines have also been studied by national and ELDO-contracts for spirallingup of European commercial satellites. Four German units are under development. Unfortunately, the governmental interest decreased in the last years. European resistojet work is concentrated in England while plasma engine research and development is carried out in Germany and Italy.

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Section: Primary Propulsion Ion Enginesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Primary Propulsion Ion Enginesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: European Eps Hardware Secondary Propulsion Ion Enginesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: West Germanymentioning

confidence: 99%

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