NASA Solar Technology Application Readiness

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The Deep Space 1 and Dawn used the NSTAR, a solar-powered electrostatic ion propulsion engine

The NASA Solar Technology Application Readiness (NSTAR) is a type of spacecraft ion thruster called electrostatic ion thruster.[1][2] It is a highly efficient low-thrust spacecraft propulsion running on electrical power generated by solar arrays. It uses high-voltage electrodes to accelerate ions with electrostatic forces.

Development and performance

Diagram of an electrostatic ion thruster

The purpose of NSTAR program was to develop a xenon-fueled ion propulsion system for deep space missions.[3] The NSTAR electrostatic ion thruster was developed at NASA's Glenn Research Center and manufactured by Hughes, and Spectrum Astro, Inc. in the early 1990s. The feed system development was a collaborative effort between JPL and Moog Inc.[1]

The ions are accelerated through two fine grids with roughly a 1300 V difference between them for 2.3 kW operation,[4][5] with a thrust of 20-92 mN¨ millinewtons, a specific impulse of 1950-31000 N·s/kg and a total impulse capability of 2.65 x106 Ns.[5] In 1996, the prototype engine endured 8000 hours of continuous operation in a vacuum chamber that simulates conditions of outer space. The results of the prototyping were used to define the design of flight hardware that was built for Deep Space 1 probe. One of the challenges was developing a compact and light weight power processing unit that converts power from the solar arrays into the kwtages needed by the engine.[3]

The engine achieves a specific impulse of one to three thousand seconds. This is an order of magnitude higher than traditional space propulsion methods, resulting in a mass savings of approximately half. This leads to much lighter and less expensive launch vehicles. Although the engine produces just 92 millinewtons (0.331 ounce-force) thrust at maximum power (2,100W on DS1 mission), the craft achieved high speed because ion engines thrust continuously for long periods of time.[6]

Applications

The NSTAR ion thruster was first used on the Deep Space 1 (DS1) spacecraft, launched on 24 October 1998.[7] The Deep Space mission carried out a flyby of asteroid 9969 Braille and Comet Borrelly. It produced 2.3 kW and was the primary propulsion for the probe.[4]

The second interplanetary mission using NSTAR engine was the Dawn spacecraft, with three redundant units[8] with a 30 cm diameter each.[9][10] Dawn is the first NASA exploratory mission to use ion propulsion to enter and leave more than one orbit.[11]

NASA engineers state that NSTAR engines, in the 5-kilowatt and 0.04 pound-thrust range, are candidates for propelling spacecraft to Europa, Pluto, and other small bodies in deep space.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Sovey, J. S., Rawlin, V. K., and Patterson, M. J.: "Ion Propulsion Development Projects in U. S.: Space Electric Rocket Test 1 to Deep Space 1." Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 17, No. 3, May–June 2001, pp. 517-526.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ NASA Glenn Contributions to Deep Space 1
  8. ↑ Dawn - Key spacecraft characteristics. 2014.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ NSTAR Ion Engine Xenon Feed System: Introduction to System Design and Development. Edward D.Bushway (PDF)
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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