AIAA Electric Propulsion Technical Committee Dr. Lyon (Brad) King (Committee Chair) Ron and Elaine Starr Professor of Space Systems Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI
Electric Propulsion – The Technology of The Future Electric Propulsion Ion Thrusters Hall-effect Thrusters Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Field-reversed Configuration Lorentz-force Accelerator Pulsed Plasma Thruster Resistojet Arcjet Helicon Microcavity Discharge Thruster VASIMR Pulsed Inductive Thruster Electrospray
Physics from
Electric Propulsion – The Technology of Today Deep Space 1 Comet Borrelly SMART 1 AEHF Hayabusa Asteroid Itokawa
Tipping Point (noun) The critical point in an evolving situation that leads to a new and irreversible development An addition or increment that, in itself, might not seem extraordinary but that unexpectedly is just the amount of additional change that will lead to a big effect
2008
2010
Tipping Point (noun) The critical point in an evolving situation that leads to a new and irreversible development An addition or increment that, in itself, might not seem extraordinary but that unexpectedly is just the amount of additional change that will lead to a big effect There are many Level-4 Electric Propulsion Technologies that are at a tipping point. Electric Propulsion as a whole is in the process of tipping. Small input will yield disproportionately large displacement.
TRL 1 TRL 2 TRL 3 TRL 4 TRL 5 TRL 6 TRL 7 TRL 8 TRL kW4.5 kW 7.2 kW 100 kW 200 kW Ion ThrustersHall ThrustersElectrospray Pulsed Inductive MPD VASIMR TRL VALLEY OF DEATH 50 kW 500 kW 1,000 kW 500 kW 1,000 kW 10 W 100 W1,000 kW < 100 W State-of-the Art in Electric Propulsion 2010
TRL 1 TRL 2 TRL 3 TRL 4 TRL 5 TRL 6 TRL 7 TRL 8 TRL kW 100 kW 200 kW Ion ThrustersHall ThrustersElectrospray Pulsed Inductive MPD VASIMR TRL VALLEY OF DEATH 50 kW 500 kW 1,000 kW 500 kW 1,000 kW 10 W 100 W1,000 kW < 100 W State-of-the Art in Electric Propulsion kW4.5 kW
The EP Roadmap: Scaling Straightforward (adj): admitting no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning and leading to only one conclusion. Easy (adj): capable of being accomplished with ease; posing no difficulty vs.
Gaps Provide technology gaps that the roadmap did not cover Potential Gap: Ground testing and development In order to thrive EP technology programs must be active at prime contractors, small businesses, and multiple academic institutions At present high-power EP will be ‘choked’ at 1, 2, or 3 available ground facilities Some roadmap technologies will severely strain national xenon production capabilities, not to mention cost of raw material NASA must consider alternatives to all-xenon architectures – what are they and what are the trades?
Academia Industry Jet Propulsion Laboratory Glenn Research Center Marshall Spaceflight Center Government Current Membership of AIAA Electric Propulsion Technical Committee Air Force Research Laboratory