A summary of performance and lifetime characteristics of pulsed and steady-state magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters is presented. The technical focus is on cargo vehicle propulsion for exploration-class missions to the Moon and Mars. Relatively high MPD thruster efficiencies of 0.43 and 0.69 have been reported at about 5000 s specific impulse using hydrogen and lithium, respectively. Efficiencies of 0.10 to 0.35 in the 1000 to 4500 s specific impulse range have been obtained with other propellants (e.g., Ar, NH3, N2). Thermal efficiency data in excess of 0.80 at MW power levels using pulsed thrusters indicate the potential of high MPD thruster performance. Extended tests of pulsed and steady-state MPD thrusters yield total impulses at least two to three orders of magnitude below that necessary for cargo vehicle propulsion. Performance tests and diagnostics for life-limiting mechanisms of megawatt-class thrusters will require high fidelity test stands which handle in excess of 10 kA and a vacuum facility whose operational pressure is less than 3 x 10 to the -4 torr.
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机译：总结了脉冲和稳态磁等离子体动力学（MPD）推进器的性能和寿命特性。技术重点是对月球和火星进行探索级飞行任务的货运车辆推进。据报道，使用氢和锂分别在约5000 s的比冲下，相对较高的MPD推进器效率为0.43和0.69。在使用其他推进剂（例如Ar，NH3，N2）时，在1000至4500 s的比冲范围内的效率为0.10至0.35。使用脉冲推进器在兆瓦功率水平下的热效率数据超过0.80，表明MPD推进器具有较高的性能。脉冲和稳态MPD推进器的扩展测试所产生的总脉冲至少比货运车辆推进所需的总脉冲低2至3个数量级。兆瓦级推进器寿命限制机构的性能测试和诊断将需要高保真度的试验台，该试验台可处理超过10 kA的压力，并且其真空装置的工作压力应小于-3 to 10 to 3 to 10 to -4 torr。
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