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| Category |
Science: Aeronautics
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| Category 2 |
Science: Engineering
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| Category 3 |
Science: Space
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| Description |
Over 120 operational spacecraft currently use electric thruster systems for primary or auxiliary propulsion functions. Electric thrusters are now being used to meet most post-LEO propulsion demands for both geosynchronous and deep space missions. The availability of practical, high-specific-impulse electric thrusters with long lives and the electrical-power systems required to sustain them has resulted in extremely rapid growth in the applications of this technology. This course provides a solid background of the operating principles, performance characteristics and design features of state-of-the-art systems from each of the three classes of electric thrusters (electrothermal, electromagnetic and electrostatic). The impacts of the thrusters on specific, typical missions; mission analysis techniques; and on-board spacecraft systems will be addressed. The extension of spacecraft capabilities afforded by electric propulsion and issues associated with its integration into spacecraft will also be discussed.
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