ROCKET PROPULSION: SPACECRAFT

ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM

SEMINAR REPORT

Submitted by

JAIWANT D
(Reg No: 21ME1030)

in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY

in

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Faculty in Charge
Dr. M. Pugazhvadivu, Professor

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Puducherry Technological University
Puducherry - 605 014

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 Rocket Propulsion: Spacecraft Electric Propulsion System

1. Introduction
Spacecraft electric propulsion (or just electric propulsion) is a type of spacecraft
propulsion technique that uses electrostatic or electromagnetic fields to accelerate mass to
high speed and thus generating thrust to modify the velocity of a spacecraft in orbit. The
propulsion system is controlled by power electronics.

Electric thrusters typically use much less propellant than chemical rockets because they have
a higher exhaust speed (operate at a higher specific impulse) than chemical rockets. Due to
limited electric power the thrust is much weaker compared to chemical rockets, but electric
propulsion can provide thrust for a longer time.

Electric propulsion was first demonstrated in the 1960s and is now a mature and widely used
technology on spacecraft. American and Russian satellites have used electric propulsion for
decades. As of 2019, over 500 spacecraft operated throughout the Solar System use electric
propulsion for station keeping, orbit raising, or primary propulsion. In the future, the most
advanced electric thrusters may be able to impart a delta-v of 100 km/s (62 mi/s), which is
enough to take a spacecraft to the outer planets of the Solar System (with nuclear power), but
is insufficient for interstellar travel. An electric rocket with an external power source
(transmissible through laser on the photovoltaic panels) has a theoretical possibility
for interstellar flight. However, electric propulsion is not suitable for launches from the
Earth's surface, as it offers too little thrust.

On a journey to Mars, an electrically powered ship might be able to carry 70% of its initial
mass to the destination, while a chemical rocket could carry only a few percent.

Figure1: Spacecraft Electric Propulsion

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 2. Types of Spacecraft Electric Propulsion System

 Gridded Ion Engine (GIE) (Major type)

 Hall Effect Thruster (HET) (Major type)
 High Efficiency Multistage Plasma Thruster (HEMPT)
 Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT)
 Magneto Plasma Dynamic (MPD) thruster
 Quad Confinement Thruster (QCT)
 Resistojet
 Arcjet
 Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) thruster
 Colloid and electrospray thrusters
 Electrode-less thrusters
 Hollow cathode and neutralisers

3. Grided Ion Engine (GIE):

Figure 2: Grided Ion Engine(GIE)

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 Figure 3: Grided Ion Engine(GIE) components and working

Key Components:

1. Discharge Chamber
2. Cathode/Neutralizer
3. Accelerator Grids
4. Power Supply
5. Propellant Feed System
6. Magnetic Field

Working Principle:

 The first step in the Grided ion thrust generation process is to ionize the gas (in this
case xenon).
 To produce ions, atoms of xenon propellant are injected into the ionization chamber of
the thruster along with electrons from a cathode.
 As the electrons bombard the xenon atoms, an electron is stripped from each one,
creating xenon ions with a positive charge.
 At the rear of the thruster is an acceleration grid comprised of a positively charged
plate and a negatively charged plate, each with thousands of tiny holes.
 This grid has a negative potential that attracts the xenon ions toward it and then
accelerates them, expelling them in an ion beam out of the thruster.
 A second cathode at the back of the thruster injects electrons into the beam to
neutralize the positively charged xenon ions.

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 This is necessary to prevent the ions from being attracted back to the spacecraft,
which would negate any thrust produced.

Applications with examples:

I. Deep Space Missions

Example: NASA's Dawn mission

Details: The Dawn spacecraft used ion propulsion to travel to and orbit the asteroid Vesta and
the dwarf planet Ceres. Its ion engines allowed it to achieve the high delta-v required for
these maneuvers with minimal propellant.

II. Satellite Station-Keeping

Example: GEO satellites (e.g., Eutelsat, Intelsat)

Details: Many geostationary satellites use ion thrusters for station-keeping, maintaining their
precise positions relative to Earth. This extends the operational life of the satellites by
efficiently using fuel.

III. Orbit Raising

Example: ESA's SMART-1

Details: The SMART-1 spacecraft used ion propulsion to travel from Earth orbit to lunar
orbit. The ion engine provided the necessary thrust over several months to gradually increase
its orbit.

IV. Interplanetary Missions

Example: JAXA's Hayabusa missions

Details: The Hayabusa and Hayabusa2 missions used ion thrusters to travel to and return
samples from near-Earth asteroids Itokawa and Ryugu. The ion engines enabled precise and
efficient maneuvering during these missions.

Advantages of Gridded Ion Engines

I. High Specific Impulse: Highly efficient use of propellant.

II. Long Operational Life: Can operate for long durations, making them ideal for deep
space missions.
III. Fine Thrust Control: Capable of precise adjustments to spacecraft velocity.

Disadvantages of Gridded Ion Engines

 Low Thrust: Generates lower thrust compared to chemical rockets, resulting in long
acceleration periods.

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  Power Requirements: Requires a substantial electrical power source, such as solar
panels or nuclear reactors.

4. Hall Effect Thrusters:

Figure 4: 6 kW Hall Effect thruster in operation at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Figure 5: Hall Effect Thruster Components and Working

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Figure 6: Hall effect Thruster Components and Working with Power Source

Main Components:

1. Anode
2. Cathode (Neutralizer)
3. Magnetic Coils (or Magnets)
4. Discharge Channel
5. Propellant (typically Xenon)
6. Power Supply

Working Principle:

I. Anode

The anode is located at the upstream end of the discharge channel. It is positively charged and
serves as the electrode through which the propellant (usually xenon gas) is injected into the
thruster.

II. Cathode (Neutralizer)

The cathode, also known as the neutralizer, is placed outside the discharge channel. It emits
electrons that travel into the discharge channel to ionize the propellant and neutralize the ion
beam produced, preventing spacecraft charging.

III. Magnetic Coils (or Magnets)

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Magnetic coils or permanent magnets create a radial magnetic field across the discharge
channel. This magnetic field is crucial for trapping electrons in a circular motion around the
channel.

IV. Discharge Channel

The discharge channel is the region where ionization of the propellant occurs. It is typically
made of insulating materials such as boron nitride or silicon carbide to withstand the high-
energy environment.

V. Propellant (typically Xenon)

Xenon is the most common propellant used in Hall effect thrusters due to its high atomic
mass, inertness, and ease of ionization. The propellant is stored in a tank and controlled by a
propellant management system

VI. Power Supply

The power supply provides the necessary electrical energy to the anode and cathode and
powers the magnetic coils. It converts electrical power (usually from solar panels or a nuclear
source) into the required voltages and currents.

Applications with examples:

A. Satellite Station-Keeping

Purpose: Maintaining a satellite's position in its orbit against gravitational perturbations and
other forces.

Example: The Eutelsat 172B satellite uses Hall effect thrusters for station-keeping. It
employs a combination of chemical propulsion for initial orbit raising and Hall effect
thrusters for maintaining its position.

B. Orbit Raising and Transfer

Purpose: Moving a satellite from a lower orbit to its final operational orbit.

Example: The SES-12 satellite, launched by SpaceX, uses Hall effect thrusters for orbit
raising from geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) to geostationary orbit (GEO).

C. Interplanetary Missions

Purpose: Providing propulsion for missions to other planets or celestial bodies.

Example: NASA's Psyche mission, which will explore the metal-rich asteroid Psyche, uses
Hall effect thrusters for its propulsion needs. The thrusters will help the spacecraft travel from
Earth to the asteroid belt.

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D. Constellation Deployment and Maintenance

Purpose: Deploying and maintaining large constellations of small satellites for applications
like global internet coverage.

Example: OneWeb and SpaceX's Starlink constellation projects use Hall effect thrusters for
orbit adjustments and station-keeping. These thrusters help ensure the satellites remain in
their designated orbits.

E. Space Tug Applications

Purpose: Moving satellites or other spacecraft from one orbit to another, often after initial
deployment.

Example: Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-1) uses Hall effect
thrusters to rendezvous with and extend the life of geostationary satellites by providing
station-keeping and maneuvering capabilities.

Advantages of Hall Effect Thrusters:

i. High Efficiency: Hall effect thrusters have high specific impulse (fuel efficiency)
compared to traditional chemical rockets.
ii. Long Operational Life: They can operate continuously for thousands of hours, making
them ideal for long-duration missions.
iii. Low Fuel Consumption: Efficient use of propellant results in lower fuel mass
requirements for missions.
iv. Precise Control: They provide precise thrust control, crucial for satellite station-keeping
and complex maneuvers.
v. Electric Power: They utilize electric power (from solar panels or nuclear sources),
which is more sustainable and easier to manage than chemical propellants.

Disadvantages of Hall Effect Thrusters:

I. Low Thrust: They provide lower thrust compared to chemical rockets, limiting their use
for rapid maneuvers or launches.
II. Complexity: Hall effect thrusters are more complex than chemical rockets, requiring
advanced electronics and precise control systems.
III. High Power Requirements: They require significant electrical power, which can be
challenging to provide on smaller spacecraft or missions with power limitations.
IV. Cost: Initial development and deployment costs can be higher compared to simpler
propulsion systems.
V. Spacecraft Charging: Without a neutralizer, the ion beam could lead to spacecraft
charging issues, requiring additional systems to mitigate.

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5. References

a) Martinez-Sanchez M, Pollard JE. Spacecraft electric propulsion-an overview. Journal of

propulsion and power. 1998 Sep;14(5):688-99.
b) Mazouffre S. Electric propulsion for satellites and spacecraft: established technologies
and novel approaches. Plasma Sources Science and Technology. 2016 Apr
6;25(3):033002.
c) Levchenko I, Goebel DM, Bazaka K. Electric propulsion of spacecraft. Physics Today.
2022 Sep 1;75(9):38-44.
d) O’Reilly D, Herdrich G, Kavanagh DF. Electric propulsion methods for small satellites:
A review. Aerospace. 2021 Jan 18;8(1):22.
e) Rapeti S. In-Space Electric Propulsion Systems-The Future of Spacecraft Propulsion
Technologies.

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