December 6, 2024: The use of Aerospace Cathode Heaters (Electric Propulsion) is revolutionizing Deep Space Exploration.
NASA’s H71M Hall-Effect Thruster Development
NASA’s Small Spacecraft Electric Propulsion (SSEP) project is advancing a sub-kW electric propulsion system based on Hall-effect thruster technology, beginning with the H64M-LM laboratory model, which demonstrated sufficient performance for high delta-v NASA deep space missions. Following its success, the project aims to develop a pathfinder model (H71M-PM) that incorporates flight-like features while maintaining flexibility for modifications and inspections.
ARi furnished heaters for this H71M-PM development in 2021. These heaters were then tested over the next year.
Cathode Heater Cycle Testing
NASA’s SSEP project aims to validate commercial sources for smaller diameter swaged heaters required for H71M cathodes, addressing concerns about cycle life based on limited NASA experience with similar sizes.
An accelerated operating profile consisting of a 6-minute powered stage followed by a 4-minute unpowered stage was employed at the Glenn Research Center to evaluate ARi’s heaters, maintaining consistency with existing hollow cathode ignition procedures.
A dedicated cycle test stand was used to assess heater performance, with constant current powering and monitoring of electrical performance and hot resistance using thermocouples attached to analog cathode tubes. All tested ARi heaters exceeded the 8,000-cycle target for the H71M propulsion system, achieving over 50% margin in cycle life. The majority of ARi heaters lasted longer than 24,000 cycles, or 3x the required cycle life.
Reference
The details in this post are based on findings presented in the research article:
Benavides, G.F., Kamhawi, H., Sarver-Verhey, T.R., et al. “High-Propellant Throughput Sub-kW Electric Propulsion System for Deep Space Science and Exploration.” Presented at the 37th International Electric Propulsion Conference, MIT, Cambridge, MA, June 19-23, 2022.
Please note: This publication is shared with NASA’s permission. Use of NASA’s findings does not imply any endorsement of ARi Industries’ products or services.
February 1, 2018
ARI Industries, Inc.
Providing custom magnetic cable sensors
For the next generation Fusion research reactors.
The below Publication provided by and with the permission of:
TAE Technologies, Inc.
19631 Pauling, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
C-2W Magnetic Measurement Suite
T. Roche, M.C. Thompson, M. Griswold, K. Knapp, B. Koop, A. Ottaviano, M. Tobin, and The TAE Team
