Qualification status of high power ion thruster and flow control unit

• Published in: Acta astronautica 2020-04, Vol.169, p.150-157
• Main Authors: Lovtsov, Alexander S., Selivanov, Michael Y., Kostin, Andrey N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Deep space; Electric propulsion; Electric thrusters; Flow control; High power; Ion optics; Ion thruster; Magnetic field; Magnetic fields; Optics; Propulsion systems; Research facilities; Space missions; Space transportation; Specific impulse; Thrusters; Transportation systems; Xenon
• ISSN: 0094-5765; 1879-2030
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.12.009

Using high power space transportation systems equipped with electric propulsion requires development and qualification of electric thrusters with power equal to tens of kW. The optimal specific impulse of such systems designed for deep space missions should be very high (6000 … 8000 s). Elements for electric propulsion systems are developing at Keldysh Research Center (KeRC). This paper presents qualification status of IT-500 35-kW ion thruster and FCU-500 flow control unit. 2000-hours lifetime test of the IT-500 and FCU-500 was performed as a part of qualification. The ion thruster accomplished 2018 h of operation for the most part at input power of 17,8 kW, utilized 40 kg of xenon. Magnetic field and ion optics improvement and graphite grids development status are also described in this paper. •Ion thruster with power 35 kW passed qualification test.•2000-h lifetime test was performed as a part of qualification.•Ion optics and magnetic field design modifications increase the thruster parameters.•New carbon-carbon grid design with improved mechanical strength of ion optics grids.