Abstract
In this study, discharge characteristics and plasma (electron and ions) acceleration characteristics of high-peak power short-pulse discharges for a gas-fed short-pulse pulsed plasma thruster were investigated. Changing mass flow rate of Ar propellant fed into the rectangular electrodes, pulse discharge characteristics and plasma acceleration characteristics were examined. As a result, the maximum specific impulse of 8200 s was obtained for a mass flow of 0.1 sccm and repetition rate of 1 kHz.
