High performance stationary plasma thruster

Citation

(1999), "High performance stationary plasma thruster", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 71 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1999.12771cab.003

High performance stationary plasma thruster

High performance stationary plasma thruster

Keywords Propulsion, Satellites, Thrust

Atlantic Research Corporation (ARC) has a contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory under the integrated High Payoff Rocket Propulsion Technology (IHPRPT) program to demonstrate a complete 4.5Kw high performance Hall effect propulsion system by the year 2000. The system, based on the Fakel SPT-140 and Space SystemsfLoral (SS/L) power processor technology, offers increased performance and life suitable for modern high power satellites. The team of ARC, International Space Technology, Incorporated (ISTI), Fakel, SS/L, and Research Institute of Applied Mechanics and Electrodynamics (RIAME) has passed preliminary design review, built the development model, and begun acceptance testing of the thruster. SS/L has initiated development of the PPU for the SPT-140.

ARC is a partner in the joint venture company ISTI formed by SS/L, Fakel Experimental Design Bureau and RIAME of Russia, and Société Européenne de Propulsion (SEP) of France. The joint venture was formed to develop, qualify, and market Hall Effect propulsion systems for satellites based on the Fakel designed stationary plasma thruster (SPT). Well over 100 SPTs ranging in power from 300 to 1,350 watts have been flown on Russian satellites with 100 per cent success.

ARC is the North American marketing and technical services agent for all/STi products. The main market targets are stationkeeping functions on the large constellations of communications satellites being deployed now and into the first decade of the millennium. ISTI has successfully qualified an SPT-100 (1.35Kw) propulsion system, which is now in production. The SPT-100 is currently baselined on SS/L's Cyberstar, the French Stentor, and the ASTRA IK satellites.

ARC, a unit of Sequa Corporation, is a leading developer and producer of solid propellant rocket motors, gas generators, liquid propulsion systems, and advanced composite materials. ARC, applying its defense technology to the civil marketplace, produces a growing line of automotive air bag inflators and supplies energetic components for the air bags from its high capacity propulsion plant in Camden, Arkansas.

Further details from Atlantic Research Corporation, 5945 Wellington Road, Bldg 300, Gainesville, Virginia 20155-1699, USA. Tel: +1 703 754 5000; Web site: http://www.Atlantic ResearchCorp.com