An Experimental Study of an Ion Thruster with Electrodes of an Ion-Extraction System Made of a Fine-Structure Carbon–Carbon Composite

This article presents the results of 1000-h tests of a radiofrequency ion thruster (RFIT) with electrodes of an ion-extraction system made of carbon–carbon composite material based on the non-woven carbon frame. The quality of the surface of the thruster IES accelerating electrode being the key elem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCosmic research Vol. 61; no. 5; pp. 449 - 453
Main Authors Akhmetzhanov, R. V., Bogatyi, A. V., Bogachev, E. A., Gordeev, S. V., Elakov, A. B., Kashirin, D. A., Perminova, J. S., Popov, G. A., Cherkasova, M. V.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.10.2023
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Astronomy
Astrophysics and Astroparticles
Astrophysics and Cosmology
Carbon
Composite materials
Electrodes
Electron microscopy
Electron probe microanalysis
Fine structure
Ion thrusters
Ions
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Radio frequency
Space Exploration and Astronautics
Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics
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Summary:This article presents the results of 1000-h tests of a radiofrequency ion thruster (RFIT) with electrodes of an ion-extraction system made of carbon–carbon composite material based on the non-woven carbon frame. The quality of the surface of the thruster IES accelerating electrode being the key element of the RFIT from the lifetime point of view was assessed by visual examination and scanning electron microscopy. The maximum depth of erosion cavity on the accelerating electrode surface was determined. Electrode-surface elemental analysis was performed by the method of electron-probe microanalysis.
ISSN:0010-9525
1608-3075
DOI:10.1134/S0010952523700338