Assessment of High Power Electric Propulsion Concepts for Enhanced Mission Capability

Abstract : This report describes the development and use of the SPACEDRIVE software. SPACEDRIVE is user interactive software that determines system and mission parameters for potential SDI earth orbital electric propulsion applications. SPACEDRIVE also contains an electric propulsion reference search data base and descriptive overviews of a large number of electric propulsion engine concepts. Specific model equations contained in SPACEDRIVE are presented and their terms and use defined. Operation of each SPACEDRIVE utility is discussed. Interactive software, Electric propulsion, System analysis, Mission analysis, Reference data base, Descriptive overviews.