Advanced laboratory for testing plasma thrusters and Hall thruster measurement campaign

Abstract

Plasma engines are used for space propulsion as an alternative to chemical thrusters. Due to the high exhaust velocity of the propellant, they are more efficient for long-distance interplanetary space missions than their conventional counterparts. An advanced laboratory of plasma space propulsion (PlaNS) at the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) specializes in designing and testing various electric propulsion devices. Inside of a special vacuum chamber with three performance pumps, an environment similar to the one that prevails in space is created. An innovative Micro Pulsed Plasma Thruster (LμPPT) with liquid propellant was built at the laboratory. Now it is used to test the second prototype of Hall effect thruster (HET) operating on krypton propellant. Meantime, an improved prototype of krypton Hall thruster is constructed.