Capabilities
The Electric Propulsion Laboratory maintains an extensive array of world-leading ground test facilities, plasma simulation software, and experimental tools for the development and flight qualification of electric thruster technology. Many of these capabilities were innovated at JPL since the founding of the Electric Propulsion group in the 1960s. These capabilities enable the development of new thruster technology, provide insight into the plasma physics governing thruster operations, as well as qualify new systems for flight operation.
Facilities
Electric thruster testing is supported by 5 large and over 10 smaller high-vacuum chambers that simulate the rarefied flight environment. These predominantly cryopumped chambers facilitate electric thruster operation up to 1 MW and have conducted thruster life tests (durations > 30 kilohours) as well as flight thruster qualification, thermal vacuum, and acceptance testing.
Modeling & Simulations
World leading physics-based software tools developed and maintained by JPL provide indispensable support in understanding state-of-the-art electric thrusters, guiding the design of new thruster systems, mitigating risk/uncertainties in flight systems, as well as reducing the cost and time to qualify new flight thrusters. Specific modeling tools include: Orificed Cathode (OrCa2D) Plasma Code, Hall Thruster with 2-D Electrons (Hall2De) Plasma, Charge Exchange (CEX-2D and CEX-3D) Ion Optics Codes, and Hall Thruster Plume (HallPlume-2D) Code.
Diagnostics
Dozens of experimental measurement tools and probes provide quantitative assessment of electric thruster system operation. While many of these tools are common to plasma physics studies, a great deal of them have been specifically developed and adapted to the unique environments electric thrusters create. JPL has helped pioneer many key EP diagnostics and authored papers on the recommended practices of many EP diagnostics.
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