DEVELOPMENT & TEST STATUS OF THE THALES HIGH EFFICIENCY MULTISTAGE PLASMA (HEMP) THRUSTER FAMILY

New, magnetically confined plasma thrusters have been developed with unique performance results: a cylindrical HEMP3050 thruster with a nominal specific impulse thrust and input power of 3000s, 50mN and 1.5kW has demonstrated to operate over wide power and thrust range from 5W to 6kW and from 200μN to 150mN, respectively. Aside throttle-ability, low thrusters mass, minimal thermal dissipation and stable and erosion free operation are unique features promising long life and high reliability. A 250h test allowed worst case life time projection >18000h at a thrust level of 57mN. A coaxial HEMP30250 thruster (nominal thrust and specific impulse 3000s and 250mN) operated in March 2005 confirmed the cylindrical to coaxial scaling of the HEMP thruster concept.