Spacecraft electric propulsion - An overview

Citation
M. Martinez-sanchez et Je. Pollard, Spacecraft electric propulsion - An overview, J PROPUL P, 14(5), 1998, pp. 688-699
Citations number
36
Categorie Soggetti
Aereospace Engineering
Journal title
JOURNAL OF PROPULSION AND POWER
ISSN journal
07484658 → ACNP
Volume
14
Issue
5
Year of publication
1998
Pages
688 - 699
Database
ISI
SICI code
0748-4658(199809/10)14:5<688:SEP-AO>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
A short review of the status of electric propulsion (EP) is presented to se rve as an introduction to the more specialized technical papers also appear ing in this Special Issue (Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 14, No, 5, Sept.-Oct. 1998). The principles of operation and the several types of thr usters that are either operational or in advanced development are discussed first, followed by some considerations on the necessary power sources. A f ew prototypical missions are then described to highlight the operational pe culiarities of EP, including spacecraft interactions. We conclude with a hi storical summary of the accumulated flight experience using this technology .