Arcjet Development for Amateur Radio Satellite

The radio amateur satellite P3-D, weighing 400 kg, will be launched into a highly elliptical 16-h orbit in 1996. Its final orbit control will be performed by a 750-W ammonia arcjet system. This work describes the arcjet system and its components as well as the qualification and operation philosophy. The implications of the satellite, the planned orbit, and the orbit control strategy for the arcjet propulsion system are also explained. The thruster system has passed two lifetime qualification tests lasting 670 and 1010 cycles with one hour of arcjet operation per cycle, which are briefly discussed.