Development of an SPT-100VT Stationary Plasma Thruster with Increased Thrust

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the investigation of the possibility to develop a stationary plasma thruster with increased thrust. This research was carried out by the Research Institute of Applied Mechanics and Electrodynamics, Moscow Aviation Institute (RIAME MAI) jointly with Fakel Design Bureau as an industrial partner. During research, we developed and investigated a laboratory model, prototype, and experimental model of the SPT-100VT thruster, whose main dimensions are close to those of the well-known SPT-100 serial thruster, which is produced by the Fakel Design Bureau and is successfully operating in space. As a result, it has been shown that the SPT-100VT thruster can effectively and for a long time operate with a discharge voltage of 300 V and power of up to 3 kW producing thrust more than twice that of the SPT-100 with a thrust efficiency above 60% and specific impulse over 1800 s. The increased thrust is achieved by an increase in the xenon flow rate; the efficiency of the thruster is increased due to the modernization of the thruster magnetic system and geometry of the accelerating channel.