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Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (7): 28761-028761.doi: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2023.28761

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Research status and prospect of high⁃power wave⁃heating magnetoplasma thruster

Xiong YANG1, Xiaokang LI1, Dawei GUO1, Mousen CHENG1(), Fan ZHANG2, Bixuan CHE1, Qingyun LEI1   

  1. 1.College of Aerospace Science and Engineering,National University of Defense Technology,Changsha 410073,China
    2.Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telecommunications Technology,Beijing 100094,China
  • Received:2023-03-29 Revised:2023-04-17 Accepted:2023-05-07 Online:2024-04-15 Published:2023-05-12
  • Contact: Mousen CHENG E-mail:mscheng@nudt.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(11805275);Cultivation Project on Aerospace Frontier Research

Abstract:

The wave-heating magnetoplasma thruster possesses many advantages such as its suitability for high power propulsion (about 100 kWe-1 MWe), high thrust density (about 4×105 N/m2), variable high thrust (about 1-100 N), and adjustable specific impulse (about 3 000-10 000 s). These advantages make the wave-heating magnetoplasma thruster well suited for a diverse range of future space missions with high-performance. Based on previous studies of the wave-heating magnetoplasma thruster both home and abroad, this work summarizes the technical status of the wave-heating magnetoplasma thruster in recent years, and analyzes the theoretical issues the present research faced in the development of the wave-heating magnetoplasma thruster, such as the so called single-pass ion cyclotron resonance heating, the plasma detachment controlling, the high-power density plasma diagnosing in strong magnetic fields, as well as many engineering difficulties, including the efficient thermal management and high-power RF power supplies. Finally, application directions of the wave-heating magnetoplasma thruster are prospected according to its performance characteristics.

Key words: electric propulsion, helicon, ion cyclotron resonance heating, magnetic nozzle, plasma

CLC Number: