Processing of Thermionic Power on an Electrically Propelled Spacecraft

摘要

A study was conducted at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to define the power processing equipment required between a thermionic reactor and an array of mercury-ion thrusters for a nuclear electric propulsion system. A new concept of electric power processing that can satisfy all the guide-lines and requirements imposed by the thermionic - fuel- element power soured and all the user loads has been proponed and evaluated.