MARK ANGELO C.

PURIO Energy Conversion and Plasma Physics

Student # 18595908 Prof. Toyoda

REPORT 1

1. Show 3 aircrafts with electric propulsions

2. Show specifications of those electric propulsion

SPACECRAFT WITH ELECTRIC PROPULSION[1]

Spacecrafts are listed equipped with electric space propulsion. This includes
both cruise engines and/or thrusters for attitude and orbit control. It is not specified
whether the given engine is the sole means of propulsion or whether other types of
engine are also used on a spacecraft. The list does not claim to be comprehensive.

End
Spacecraft Launch Thruster Spacecraft Thruster
of Propellant Comment
Name Date type Customer Prime
Life
Electric
Magneto
Propulsion
Space Flyer 18 Mar 13 Jan plasmady ISAS /
Hydrazine ISAS Experiment,
Unit (SFU) 1995 1996 namic NASDA
43395 pulses of
thruster
operation
Station-keeping,
Hall
2 Aug ISA fine attitude
VENµS effect Xenon Rafael
2017 CNES control and
thruster
orbit change
Experimental
military
Rocket
ARGOS 23 Feb 31 Jul satellite, Electric
Arcjet Ammonia USAF Research
(P91-1) 1999 2003 Propulsion
co.
Space
Experiment

Below are the detailed specifications of each spacecraft and the electric
propulsion they used.
 Energy Conversion and Plasma Physics

SPACE FLYER UNIT

The Space Flyer Unit (宇宙実験・観測フリーフライヤ Uchū Jikken-Kansoku

Free Flyer) was a spacecraft which was launched by Japan on Mar. 18, 1995.

Space Flyer Unit photographed from Endeavour during STS-72 mission

Technical Data
The Space Flyer Unit was launched from Tanegashima Space Center from a H-
II vehicle. It was carrying testing materials and research data that held value to NASA.
They retrieved the data from the Space Flyer Unit by Space Shuttle Endeavour on Jan.
20th, 1996 (which was 10 months after the Space Flyer Unit was launched. The idea
behind the implementation of the SFU was a joint effort by multiple major
corporations.
The ones that were involved with the launch were Institute of Space and
Astronautical Science, the National Space Development Agency, and Ministry of
International Trade and Industry.
After the shuttle returns the SFU from space, the SFU is transported to Japan
and refurbished for the next flight.

Mission type Technology

Operator NASDA
ISAS
NEDO
USEF
COSPAR ID 1995-011A
SATCAT no. 23521
Website www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/sfu.shtml
Mission duration 10 months

Examples of Aircraft with Electric Propulsion 2

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Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric
Launch mass 3,846 kilograms (8,479 lb)
Landing mass 3,492 kilograms (7,699 lb)

Start of mission
Launch date 18 March 1995, 08:01 UTC
Rocket H-II 3F
Launch site Tanegashima Yoshinobu 1

End of mission
Recovered by Space Shuttle Endeavour
STS-72
Recovery date 13 January 1996
Landing date 20 January 1996, 07:41:41 UTC
Landing site Kennedy SLF Runway 15

Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee 470 kilometres (290 mi)
Apogee 492 kilometres (306 mi)
Inclination 28.4 degrees
Period 94.22 minutes
Epoch 17 April 1995[2]

Examples of Aircraft with Electric Propulsion 3

 Energy Conversion and Plasma Physics

Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) Arcjet Space Propulsion System[3]

The advantages of Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) arcjet space propulsion

system arc:
1) large thrust density, and being compatible to high power requirement,
2) simplicity of structure, principle, and operation,
3) absence of pm-heating,
4) low working voltage,
5) usage of propellants less influential to the Earth’s environment,
6) wide selectiveness of propellant, hydrazine applicable to common use with
Reaction Control System (RCS),
7) wide range of specific impulse.

According to these advantages, several space tests were already conducted,

however, the flight experiences as a propulsion system have been still unsatisfactory.
For the ground test, a few endurance tests were tried targeting 10- million-pulse
endurance as a main propulsion system with mission AV assuming a lunar orbiter or
other interplanetary missions. As the precursor result, an epoch making 5-million-
pulse endurance was successfully proved using a 1 kW class system and envisioned a
real application to space missions. At that time in advent of the Space Flyer Unit (SFU
a Japanese Multipurpose Space Platform), the MPD arc jet thruster system was picked
up as one of the experiment candidate in space. Although the SFU mission was
imposed the NASA Safety Policy and very severe weight constraint on, the MPD arc
jet thruster system employed hydrazine to sham the propellant with RCS (Reaction
Control System) in the future, a 1 kW class thruster head without scaling-down that
would be the key technology of on/off cycle reliability of arc jet thrusters.

The operational principle is shown in

the figure pulsed high current arc &charge
is initiated between a centered cathode and
segmented coaxial anodes to ionize the
hydrazine decomposed gas flowing
through these electrodes. Each segmented
anode connected to each pulse-forming-
network was employed so as to distribute
am discharges azimuthally uniform. The
electromagnetic thrust is generated by the
coupling of the current flowing from the MPD Arcjet Thruster
anode to the cathode and the self-induced Source:http://erps.spacegrant.org/uploads/im
magnetic field in the azimuthal direction. ages/images/iepc_articledownload_1988-
Besides this axial thrust, the compression 2007/1997index/7120.pdf
force in the radially inward direction
concentrates a high density high temperature plasma at the cathode tip to produce a
nozzle-like expansion thrust.

Examples of Aircraft with Electric Propulsion 4

 Energy Conversion and Plasma Physics

The EPEX (Electric Propulsion Experiment) using an MPD arcjet was installed on
the SFU as one of the experiment candidates. The EPEX objectives are:

1. to check out the system compatibility to the space environment and/or

launch environment,
2. to verify the propulsive function with more than one thousand repetitive
firings
3. to dump residual hydrazine propellant for the safe retrieval of SFU by a
manned space vehicle of the Space shuttle

If time permitting and additional electrical resource is available in orbit, extra-

success-level experiments were also planned so as to continue the firings or try several
operational parameters other than the nominal.

Summary of EPEX specification

Mass < 41 kg Allocated
Power < 430 W Allocated
Exp. Period 46 rev Allocated

Propellant N2H4 < 130 g Loaded

PFN Capacity 2,240 uF ¼ of full capacity
Pulse Width 150 us ¼ of full width
Repetition 0.5 – 1.8 Hz Variable in 4 steps
Discharge Current 6 kA Top value
Thrust-to-power > 20 mN/kW Top value
Specific Impulse > 1,000 sec Top Value
Commands 9 Allocated
Data Rate < 625 bps Allocated
Safety Compliance NASA STS NHB 1700.7B

Examples of Aircraft with Electric Propulsion 5

 Energy Conversion and Plasma Physics

VENµS

Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro-Satellite (VENµS) is

a near polar sun-synchronous orbit microsatellite being jointly built by the Israeli
Space Agency and CNES. The project was signed upon in April 2005[4] and was
launched on the 2nd of August 2017.[5] The microsatellite, which set to cost the ISA
US$20 million and CNES €10 million, will be designed and built by IAI and Rafael
under ISA's supervision.
For the mission, CNES is responsible for supplying the superspectral camera
and the science mission center. The ISA is responsible for the satellite control center,
the technological mission and payload (Israeli Hall effect Thruster and autonomous
mission), the spacecraft, and the launcher interface.[6]

The Israeli-French VENMS satellite. Photograph courtesy of IAI.

Mission type Earth observation

Technology
Operator ISA/CNES
COSPAR ID 2017-044B
SATCAT no. 42901
Website venus.cnes.fr/fr
Mission duration 4.5 years [

Examples of Aircraft with Electric Propulsion 6

 Energy Conversion and Plasma Physics

Spacecraft properties
Bus ISA
Manufacturer IAI
Rafael
CNES
Launch mass 265 kilograms (584 lb) (wet mass, of
which 23 kg are fuel)
Power 800 watts

Start of mission
Launch date 2 August 2017
Rocket Vega
Launch site Kourou
Contractor Arianespace

Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Sun-synchronous 2 day Earth
repeating
Perigee 720 km (first phase) / 410 km
(second phase)
Apogee 720 km (first phase) / 410 km
(second phase)
Inclination 98.27 degrees

Main
Name Ritchey-Chretien telescope[3]
Type Cassegrain reflector
Diameter 0.25m
Focal length 1.75m
Collecting area 50 special interest sites

Examples of Aircraft with Electric Propulsion 7

 Energy Conversion and Plasma Physics

Instruments
Super Spectral Camera (VSSC),
Israeli Hall Effect Thruster (IHET)

VENµS Insignia

Hall Effect Thruster [7]

The technological payload of Venμs comprises a unique electric propulsion

system, which is based on Hall-Effect thrusters. Such an electrical propulsion system
allows for minimizing the mass of hydrazine chemical propellant while achieving
flexible orbital maneuvers that can be affected online, considerably extending the
lifetime. In order to reduce the mission's risk, Venμs is also equipped with a redundant
common chemical propulsion system.

IHET THRUSTER (ISRAELI HALL EFFECT THRUSTER) [8]

Thruster operating principles
 Xe gas directed to distribution channel (Anode)
 Electrons emitted from cathode, collide with Xe atoms, and ionizing them.
 Applied magnetic field, spiral electrons in the thruster channel.
 Electric field accelerate ions out of the channel.
 Ions neutralization at exit by electrons from the cathode.

Examples of Aircraft with Electric Propulsion 8

 Energy Conversion and Plasma Physics

IHET Thruster Photos

Source: https://venus.cnes.fr/en/VENUS/ihet.htm

Examples of Aircraft with Electric Propulsion 9

 Energy Conversion and Plasma Physics

ARGOS (satellite) [9], [10]

The Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS), not to be

confused with the Argos System which employs mostly NOAA satellites, was
launched on 23 Feb 1999 carrying nine payloads for research and development
missions by nine separate researchers. The mission terminated on 31 July 2003.
ARGOS was launched from SLC-2W, Vandenberg AFB, CA, atop a Boeing
Delta II (7920-10). Construction of the spacecraft bus and integration of the satellite's
payloads was accomplished by Boeing at their Seal Beach, CA facility. The program
was funded and led by the DoD's Space Test Program (STP) as mission P91-1 (the first
STP mission contract awarded in 1991).
The $220M mission was operated by Air Force Space Command's Space and
Missile Systems Center's Test and Evaluation Directorate (then Space Development
and Test Wing, now SMC's Advanced Systems and Development Directorate)[2] from
their RDT&E Support Complex (RSC) at Kirtland AFB, NM. ARGOS was the first
mission operated 100% from the new state-of-the-art, commercial-off-the-shelf
Kirtland facility; all previous SMC satellite missions had been operated in total or at
least in part from the preceding center at Onizuka AFS, CA.

ARGOS Credit: Manufacturer Image

Examples of Aircraft with Electric Propulsion 10

 Energy Conversion and Plasma Physics

Mission type Space environment

Operator AFRL
NRL
STP
COSPAR ID 1999-008A
SATCAT no. 25634
Mission duration 3 years (planned)

Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Boeing
Launch mass 2,450 kilograms (5,400 lb)

Start of mission
Launch date February 23, 1999, 10:29:55 UTC
Rocket Delta II 7920-10
Launch site Vandenberg SLC-2W
Contractor Boeing

End of mission
Last contact 31 July 2003

Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Sun-synchronous
Perigee 828 kilometers (514 mi)
Apogee 842 kilometers (523 mi)
Inclination 98.78 degrees
Period 101.47 minutes
Epoch 5 December 2013, 06:21:33 UTC[1]

Examples of Aircraft with Electric Propulsion 11

 Energy Conversion and Plasma Physics

Arcjet Thruster [11]

American ion engine technology satellite. ARGOS was the USAF

Space Test Program P91-1 technology satellite by Boeing/Seal Beach.
Experimental satellite built by Rockwell for USAF STP (Space Test Program),
USA. Launched 1999.
AKA: P91-1. Status: Operational 1999. First Launch: 1999-02-23. Last Launch:
1999-02-23. Number: 1 . Thrust: 2.00 N (0.40 lbf). Gross mass: 2,720 kg (5,990
lb). Specific impulse: 800 s.

It carried an electric propulsion experiment, ionospheric instruments, a space

dust experiment, and the NRL's USA hard X-ray astronomy detectors for X-ray binary
star timing observations. ARGOS was built by Boeing/Seal Beach. The ARGOS
satellite was built by Space & Missile system Center (SMC), Los Angeles AFB, CA
under the program P-91-1. ARGOS carried nine DoD space experiments to orbit, most
notably the ESEX Arcjet thruster.
The ESEX (Electric Propulsion Space Experiment) program began in 1989 under
the then Air Force Astronautics Lab, Edwards AFB, CA. The prime contractor was
TRW, Space Park, Redondo Beach, CA. The Arcjet was build by Rocket Research (now
Aerojet), Redmond, WA. The ESEX experiment flew once in 1999 on board the ARGOS
satellite. ESEX was the first High Power Electric Propulsion flight. The system
operated on 30 kW with about 26 kW to the thruster. The experiment was powered by
205 kg of silver zinc batteries built by Eagle Pitcher Company of Joplin, Mo. At the
time this was the highest power subsystem ever flown in space.
The objective was to verify Arcjet performance in space and determine if any
spacecraft compatibility or contamination issues existed. AGROS operated with no
detectable impact when the thruster operating. Sensors detected no RF interference,
no increase in contamination, and measurements of specific impulse and thrust were
within ground measurement uncertainty.
This truly pioneering flight program gave the satellite community great
confidence in using High Power Electric propulsion.

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ESEX Arcjet
Source: http://www.astronautix.com/e/esexarcjet.html

References

[1] “List of spacecraft with electric propulsion - Wikipedia.” [Online]. Available:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spacecraft_with_electric_propulsion. [Accessed: 05-Oct-
2018].
[2] J. McDowell, “Satellite Catalog,” Jonathan’s Sp. Page.
[3] K. Toki, Y. Shimuzu, and K. Kuriki, “Electric propulsion experiment (EPEX) of a repetitively
pulsed MPD thruster system onboard space flyer unit (SFU),” 25th Int. Electr. Propuls. Conf., pp.
749–755, 1997.
[4] CNES and ISA to work together on VENµS mission. CNES Press.
[5] Vega launcher achieves on-target deployment of Earth-imaging satellites. Spaceflight now, 2017.
[6] Venus satellite. CNES.
[7] L. Kit, “Flight VV10: Vega to Launch Earth Observation Satellites For Italy, France And Israel,”
2017.
[8] “IHET Thruster,” 2014. .
[9] Fact Sheet : USAF SMC’s Space Development and Test Wing. .
[10] C. Peat, “ARGOS - Orbit,” Heaven. Above, Dec. 2013.
[11] M. Wade, “Argos,” 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.astronautix.com/a/argos.html.
[Accessed: 08-Oct-2018].

Examples of Aircraft with Electric Propulsion 13