The R&D Program of Medium-power Hall Thrusters at JAXA

Abstract

Targeting at medium- to large-scale spacecraft, JAXA is working on the development of next generation's electric propulsion. The milestone mission for this activity is the engineering test satellite-9 (ETS-9) where the first flight experiment of a Japanese Hall thruster is planned. Although this opportunity is limited to about 3,000 hours of full power operation at 6 kW and 200-cycles operation at a lower power of 4 kW, the flight experience in combination with qualification processes, including a full mission duty cycle life test in a ground facility, contributes to establish medium-power Hall thruster technology in Japan. In addition to this first step R&D, improvements of the 1st step Hall thruster are under study as the 2nd step R&D to satisfy the needs for future medium- to large-scale all-electric propulsion Earth orbiting satellites by enabling lightweight thruster body, deep throttling, and higher specific impulse (Isp). Furthermore, as the 3rd step, wide Isp operation are pursuit to provide the optimum Isp for a variety of future missions including space transportation and exploration. These R&Ds enable step-by-step advancement of Japanese Hall thruster technology.