Helicon engine in outboard air as a successful solution for maintaining small space vehicle in orbits up to 200 km

Abstract

The paper deals with the use of a helicon engine in the outboard air to maintain small space vehicle (SSV) in low earth orbit. The concept of the small spacecraft with an engine on the outboard air is proposed. The authors showed that the use of such an engine is a successful solution for maintaining in orbits up to 200 km SSC with cross-sections up to SSC = 1 m2 and shape coefficient cf ≤ 3.