The hyperbolic-equation system (HES) approach is applied to the calculation of a Hall thruster using the hybrid particle-in-cell (PIC) method. The HES approach enables accurate computations of magnetized electron fluids in quasi-neutral plasmas with a simple structured mesh. SPT-100 thruster is assumed as the calculation condition. The calculation results indicate that the Bohm criterion is sat...

Related Articles Electric field measurement in microwave discharge ion thruster with electro-optic probe Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 124702 (2012) Compact high-speed reciprocating probe system for measurements in a Hall thruster discharge and plume Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 123503 (2012) On physical interpretation of two dimensional time-correlations regarding time delay velocities and eddy shaping Phy...

Ion thrusters offer the potential to enable many future interplanetary robotic missions presently under consideration by NASA. To realize the benefits offered by these low thrust devices, the sputtering mechanisms that are responsible for the degradation of thruster components over time must be well understood. Predictions of thruster life depend directly on the material removal rates from thru...

In this paper, a closed-loop switching function for on-off thruster firings is proposed to provide good attitude control performance in the presence of modeling errors for single-axis slew maneuver of a rigid spacecraft and to eliminate double-sided thruster firings. The size of a single-sided deadband in the switching function provides the capability of a tradeoff between maneuver time and fue...

Space manipulators mounted on an on-o thrustercontrolled base are envisioned to assist in the assembly and maintenance of space structures. When handling large payloads, manipulator joint and link exibility become important, for they can result in payload-attitude controller fuel-replenishing dynamic interactions. In this paper, the dynamics model of an Nexible-joint space manipulator is develo...

PURPOSE To verify the accuracy of an infrared (IR) marker-based dynamic tumor-tracking irradiation system (IR tracking) using the gimbaled x-ray head of the Vero4DRT (MHI-TM2000). METHODS The gimbaled 6-MV C-band x-ray head of the Vero4DRT can swing along the pan-and-tilt direction to track a moving target. During beam delivery, the Vero4DRT predicts the future three-dimensional (3D) target p...

THERE has been significant work recently in the development of iodine-fed Hall thrusters for in-space propulsion applications.1 The use of iodine as a propellant provides many advantages over present xenon-gas-fed Hall thruster systems. Iodine is a solid at ambient temperature (no pressurization required) and has no special handling requirements, making it safe for secondary flight opportunitie...

Abstract The H2020 MINOTOR project focused on the study and optimization of ECRA thruster, an electric propulsion system for satellites. First, a 30 W prototype this Electron Cyclotron Resonance Thruster (ECRT) is optimized. Then, 200 design based these findings. performances both prototypes were assessed at two different facilities: ONERA in France Justus Liebig University Germany. Significant...

We propose the use of a model helicopter to emulate the landing dynamics of a spacecraft. Our controller accepts thruster inputs (like those on a spacecraft) and converts them into appropriate helicopter stick controls such that the resulting trajectory of the helicopter is close to the trajectory that would have been achieved by simply providing the same thruster inputs to a spacecraft. The ap...