ELECTRIC PROPULSION DEVICES

Electric Propulsion Thruster Modules Neutralizers/Cathodes for Electric Propulsion Electric Propulsion Diagnostic Package (EPDP)

Electric Propulsion Thruster Modules

Applications

Electric Propulsion (EP) Systems based on ion generation, extraction and acceleration through: Electrostatic forces (Gridded Ion Engines) j x B forces (Hall Effect Thrusters)

Main Features

Ion/Plasma generation from a neutral gas Ion acceleration/beam formation through e set of grids (for Ion Thrusters) Ion generation and extraction/Plume formation through Hall effect acceleration (Hall Effect Thrusters Single Stage and Double Stage) Accommodation of the Radio-frequency (for ion thrusters) or the Magnetic (for Hall Thrusters) conditioning provisions Compatibility with S/C environmental constraints

RMT Discharge Chamber

RMT Grid Set

Production

Double Stage Hall Effect Thruster (DS-HET) Prototype Radio-frequency with Magnetic Field Ion Thruster (RMT) Engineering Model

DS-HET Discharge Chamber

Assembled DS

Background

RMT Development activities under ASI contract Hall Effect Thruster R&D activities based on inhouse developed discharge chamber prototypes and on co-operation /joint test campaign with Russian Qualified Organizations

The Magnetic Conditioning Circuit is composed by SmCo permanent magnets and by a magnetic control coil, whose design has been optimized by comparing the numerical simulation based on Ansys code with the experimental characterization DS-HET Discharge Chamber In the DS-HET concept the ionization is obtained through the same Hall effect that is exploited for the acceleration, but incorporates a three-electrode configuration. The separation between the ionization and acceleration regions is achieved by using an additional electrode, accommodating active electron sources . The magnetic circuit design is conceived to control, independently, the magnetic field in the ionization and acceleration zone. The DS-HET structure Includes the annular accelerating channel magnetic conditioning, the propellant line voltage isolation, the anode ring, the intermediate electrode, the gas inlet and distribution provisions, and the mechanical housing.

Technical Description
RMT Discharge Chamber The RMT Thruster (patented) uses a RF discharge, in the VHF range, in conjunction with a low level (~100 Gauss) static magnetic field. The RMT Discharge Chamber consists of a ceramic vessel with built electrodes for the RF capacitive coupling, anode and gas distributor.

Block Diagram

RMT Exploded view

DS-HET 3D Cutaway

RMT Grids

DS-HET Exploded view

TYPICAL PERFORMANCES
Operating Parameters Ion Acceleration Thrust Range (mN) Specific Impulse Range (sec) Thruster Efficiency (%) Specific Power (W/mN) Propellant Flow Rate (mg/s) RMT With Electrostatic field 2 to 12 2300-3600 30-55 30-40 0.2 0.5 DS-HET Hall Effect (j x B) 50-300 (TBC) 1500-3000 (TBC) 35-50 (TBC) 15 35 1 - 20

MASS/VOLUME/CONSUMPTION BUDGETS
Type RMT DS-HET Mass (kg) 2 12 Overall Dimension (mm) 140 x 130 240 x 140 Thruster Operating Power (W) 150 to 550 2000 - 5000
Updated : December 2006

This datasheet is not contractual and can be changed without any notice

For further information, please contact Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A Florence Plant : Via A. Einstein, 35 50013 Campi Bisenzio (Florence) - ITALY Tel.: + 39(0)55 880401 Fax: + 39(0)55 8974655 Website : www.thalesaleniaspace.com

Neutralizers/Cathodes for Electric Propulsion

Applications

The cathode/ neutralizer is a key component of an Electric Propulsion (EP) system. It is basically a low energy electron generation and emission device and can be used with the following EP thruster types: Gridded Ion Engine (GIE), Hall Hall Effect Thruster (HET) Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) Neutralization of the positive charge of the ion beam/plume for avoiding negative charge build-up on the spacecraft Compensation of the positive charge of the ion beam/plume which affects the beam divergence Generation of primary electrons for the discharge ignition (RF GIE) and sustaining (HET)

NccA 1000

NccA 5000

Main Features

NccA 15000

FEEP NA

Technical Description
The cathode/neutralizer technology for GIE and HET Propulsion Technology is based on the orificed hollow cathode concept. An inert gas , flows into the cathode cavity where it is ionized by electrons emitted from an oxide impregnated insert heated at the thermo-ionic emission temperature. An external anode (keeper), held positive w.r.t. the hollow cathode body, accelerates the electrons generated from the gas ionization. Once the discharge has been ignited the plasma generation is self-sustained by ion bombardment into the insert surface. An important feature of the device operation is the capability of self adapting the electron emission, in a wide operating range and without changing the operating parameters (e.g. flow rate, discharge power), according the ion beam current of the electric thruster When coupled to a HET Propulsion System a cathode/neutralizer, performs, at the same time, the neutralization and the main thruster discharge sustain functions The FEEP NA is based on a small electron gun in diode or triode configuration. The electrons are extracted and accelerated, from the thermo-ionic emitter (cathode), through an accelerating electrode, into the ion beam of the FEEP. The emitter is heated at the emission temperature by a heater located very close to the emissive surface

Production

High Power Hollow Cathode Assembly (HP HCA), at QM level, for the RIT-22 Ion Thruster HP HCA Prototype for the PPS5000 HET Neutralizer Assembly (NA) for the FEEP on Microscope at FM std NA for the FEEP on Lisa Pathfinder at FM std

Background

Neutralizer for the RIT-10 on ARTEMIS successfully operated in flight for 22,000 hours Neutralizer for the ESA-XX Ion Thruster Medium Power HCT for 1.5 kW HET, successfully operated with PPS-1350 (Snecma) and TAL-55 (TsNIIMASH)

Block Diagram

Scheme of the Hollow Cathode Assembly for HET/GIE Electric Propulsion

Scheme of the Neutralizer for the FEEP propulsion

TYPICAL PERFORMANCES
Parameters/features Technology Heating-up time (min) Gas Flow rate (mg/sec) Discharge current (A) Neutralization current (A) Lifetime (hrs) NccA 1000 Hollow Cathode <3 0.02-0.1 0.5-1 Up to 0.8 > 15,000 in-flight verified NccA 5000 Hollow Cathode <6 0.1-0.5 2-5 Up to 4 > 15,000 expected NccA 15000 Hollow Cathode < 10 0.1-0.5 5-15 Up to 10 > 15,000 expected NA for FEEP Electron gun <2 Not Applicable Not Applicable Up to 10 mA > 10,000

MASS/VOLUME/CONSUMPTION BUDGETS
Cathode/neutralizer Models NccA 1000 NccA 5000 NccA 15000 NA for FEEP Mass (g) 60 100 120 40 Dimension (mm) 105x 37 x 37 32 x 82 42 x 90 23 x 21 Power (W) Steady state 5-10 < 50 < 80 <6 Power (W) Heating up < 20 < 60 < 100 <6
Updated : December 2006

This datasheet is not contractual and can be changed without any notice

For further information, please contact Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A Florence Plant : Via A. Einstein, 35 50013 Campi Bisenzio (Florence) - ITALY Tel.: + 39(0)55 880401 Fax: + 39(0)55 8974655 Website : www.thalesaleniaspace.com

Electric Propulsion Diagnostic Package ( EPDP )

Applications

Instrument dedicated to the characterization of plasma and contamination issues during the operation of an Electric Propulsion System on board a spacecraft

PDA

Main Features

Characterization of the Ion Energy distribution in the periphery of the ejected ion/plasma beam Measurement parameters of the plasma Solar Cell Patch

PCA

Investigation on Contamination /erosion from sputtered materials and/or propellant deposition

QCM Device Control/Command functions, ADC /DAC, data buffering and other support functions Plasma Diagnostic Package for the Hall Effect Propulsion on STENTOR (PFM launched with the spacecraft in 2003)

Production

Electric Propulsion Diagnostic Package (EPDP) for the Hall Effect Propulsion on SMART-1: successfully flown up to the Moon orbit (2003-2005) EPDP for the FEEP on Lisa Pathfinder: FM and FM spare (2006-2007) Ion Propulsion Diagnostic Package for Bepi Colombo : proposed to monitor the Ion Propulsion operation in a very severe environment (foreseen in 2007-2009)

Technical Description
The EPDP Instrument consist of a full set of diagnostic probes and their conditioning/interface electronics. It includes the following assemblies: Plasma Diagnostic Assembly(PDA): it includes of a Retarding Potential Analyzer ( RPA)and a Langmuir Probe (LP), dedicated to the plasma parameters measurement (e.g. plasma potential, plasma density, electron temperature) Contamination & Deposition Assembly(CDA): it is physically realized with separated boxes, namely

Background

Ion Propulsion Diagnostic Package for ARTEMIS Ion Propulsion Package, (developed at PFM level) Power Conversion & Distribution TLM/TLC interface with the spacecraft

Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) that is able to detect a mass change (as a consequence of deposition or erosion) Solar Cell (SC), operated such that a change in the nominal V-I characteristic can be related to material deposition

Power & Control Assembly(PCA): implemented in a box and dedicated to the:

Conditioning of the Probes and sensors and analog Data acquisition Power Conversion & Distribution

Block Diagram

TYPICAL PERFORMANCES
Ion Energy (charge exchange) Electron Energy Plasma Density Plasma Potential Mass Deposition range 0 to 400 eV 0.5 to 5 eV 10 to 103 mm-3 -200 to + 200 V 0 to 0.3 mg/cm2

MASS/VOLUME/CONSUMPTION BUDGETS
EPDP assembly PDA CDA (QCM + SC) PCA Mass (g) 400 130 1300 Dimension (mm) 130 x65 x75 100x80x30 100x100x150 Power (W) 0.1 (idle); 5 (peak) NA 6 (idle); 14 (peak)
Updated : December 2006

This datasheet is not contractual and can be changed without any notice

For further information, please contact Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A Florence Plant : Via A. Einstein, 35 50013 Campi Bisenzio (Florence) - ITALY Tel.: + 39(0)55 880401 Fax: + 39(0)55 8974655 Website : www.thalesaleniaspace.com