RF Helicon-based Inductive Plasma Thruster (IPT) Design for an Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Propulsion system (ABEP)
- Romano, F.
- Chan, Y. A.
- Herdrich, G.
- Traub, C.
- Fasoulas, S.
- Roberts, P. C.E.
- Smith, K.
- Edmondson, S.
- Haigh, S.
- Crisp, N. H.
- Oiko, V. T.A.
- Worrall, S. D.
- Livadiotti, S.
- Huyton, C.
- Sinpetru, L. A.
- Straker, A.
- Becedas, J.
- Domínguez, R. M.
- González, D.
- Cañas, V.
- Sulliotti-Linner, V.
- Hanessian, V.
- Mølgaard, A.
- Nielsen, J.
- Bisgaard, M.
- Garcia-Almiñana, D.
- Rodriguez-Donaire, S.
- Sureda, M.
- Kataria, D.
- Outlaw, R.
- Villain, R.
- Perez, J. S.
- Conte, A.
- Belkouchi, B.
- Schwalber, A.
- Heißerer, B.
DOIAbstract
Challenging space missions include those at very low altitudes, where the atmosphere is source of aerodynamic drag on the spacecraft. To extend such missions lifetime, an efficient propulsion system is required. One solution is Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP). It collects atmospheric particles to be used as propellant for an electric thruster. The system would minimize the requirement of limited propellant availability and can also be applied to any planet with atmosphere, enabling new mission at low altitude ranges for longer times. Challenging is also the presence of reactive chemical species, such as atomic oxygen in Earth orbit. Such species cause erosion of (not only) propulsion system components, i.e. acceleration grid...
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