ELECTRIC ROCKET THRUSTERS FOR TRANSPORTATION PROPULSION SYSTEMS OF SPACECRAFT WITH NUCLEAR ELECTRIC POWER SOURCES

摘要

This paper concentrates on the field of possible missions for research spacecraft (SC) with nuclear power systems (NPS) in the electric power range from 0.1 to 20 MW. The levels of power and lifetime of transportation electric propulsion systems (EPS) are determined which are required to fulfil these missions. Three subranges of NPS power are analysed: 0.1... 0.25 MW which is planned to be realized in the period of 2010-2020, 0.5...2 MW to be realized in 2015-2025, and 5...20 MW to be realized after 2020. Among the examined types of electric rocket thrusters (ERT) are Hall, ion and magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters. For each of the above specified NPS power subranges the most acceptable ERT types are determined. Results of Keldysh Research Center (KeRC) works of Hall thrusters of higher power are presented.