Automatic accel voltage tracking system for an ion thruster

Details Automatic accel voltage tracking system for an ion thruster Automatic accel voltage tracking system for an ion thruster

2005-11-15

2005-11-15

Gregory, Bernarr E. (Department: 3662)

Aeronautics and astronautics

Spacecraft

Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path

C244S003110, C244S003140, C244S172200, C060S200100, C060S202000, C313S359100, C313S360100, C313S362100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06964396

ABSTRACT:
A voltage tracking system for an ion thruster includes a discharge chamber, a screen grid, an accelerator grid, and an accelerator grid voltage controller. The discharge chamber contains plasma at a given potential. The screen grid is adjacent to the discharge chamber and is voltage biased relative to the plasma to form a plasma sheath that repels electrons and attracts ions from the discharge chamber plasma. The accelerator grid is adjacent to the screen grid and has a voltage for accelerating the ions to create thrust and prevent any electrons from backstreaming into the ion thruster from the beam plasma. The accelerator grid voltage controller supplies voltage to the accelerator grid. The accelerator grid voltage controller adjusts the magnitude of the accelerator grid voltage to minimize the amount of voltage required to prevent electron backstreaming into the ion thruster.

REFERENCES:
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J.R. Anderson et al.: “Performance Characteristics of the NSTAR Ion Thruster During an On-Going Duration Ground Test”; “Aerospace Conference Proceedings, 2000 IEEE,” vol. 4, pp. 99-122; year 2000.

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