Technical Challenges for Advanced Arcjets

Daisuke NAKATA; Kiyoshi KINEFUCHI; Satoshi HOSODA; Masahiro KINOSHITA; Hitoshi KUNINAKA

doi:10.2322/tastj.12.To_1_1

o-1) In-Space Propulsion for Large-Scale Transportation

Technical Challenges for Advanced Arcjets

Daisuke NAKATA, Kiyoshi KINEFUCHI, Satoshi HOSODA, Masahiro KINOSHITA, Hitoshi KUNINAKA

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Keywords: Arcjets, Space Propulsion, Thermal Design, Cathode, Lifetime

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2014 Volume 12 Issue ists29 Pages To_1_1-To_1_5

DOI https://doi.org/10.2322/tastj.12.To_1_1

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Abstract

Next generation arcjets should have light-weight design and prolonged lifetime. For the former topic, it is shown that the radiator mass can be drastically reduced by the effective use of propellant as a coolant at the lower temperature region on the radiator. Resulting thruster weight of 2.0 kg including the radiator is possible for 15 kWe arcjet. For the latter topic, replaceable cathode system is proposed and some key issues are mentioned.

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