The PEGASES Gridded Ion-Ion Thruster Performance and Predictions

Author

Aanesland, Ane ; Rafalskyi, Dmytro ; Bredin, Jerome ; Grondein, Pascaline ; Oudini, Noureddine ; Chabert, Pascal ; Levko, Dimitry ; Garrigues, Laurent ; Hagelaar, Gerardus

Author_Institution

Centre Nat. de la Rech. Sci., Univ. Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, Palaiseau, France

Volume

43

Issue

1

fYear

2015

fDate

Jan. 2015

Firstpage

321

Lastpage

326

Abstract

The plasma propulsion with electronegative gases (PEGASES) thruster is a gridded ion thruster that accelerates alternately positively and negatively charged ions to provide thrust. Over the last few years, various prototypes have been tested, adequate diagnostics have been developed, and analytical models and simulations are made to better understand and control the physics involved. Here, we present the state-of-the-art in the PEGASES development as of 2013, and discuss its possible future in space.

Keywords

Langmuir probes; electric propulsion; ion engines; plasma transport processes; Langmuir probes; PEGASES gridded ion-ion thruster; electronegative gases; negatively charged ions; plasma propulsion; plasma transport; positively charged ions; Acceleration; Ions; Plasma measurements; Plasma temperature; Probes; Sulfur hexafluoride; Electric propulsion; electronegative plasmas; ion--ion plasmas; ion-ion plasmas; negative ion thrusters; negative ion thrusters.;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2014.2369534

Filename

6990637