Multi-Channel Hall-Effect Thrusters: Mission Applications and Architecture Trade-Offs

Multi-channel Hall-effect thrusters are devices where several Hall current discharges share a common magnetic circuit, cathode, and power supply. This arrangement provides not only most of the advantages commonly attributed to multi-thruster assemblies, or clusters, but also facilitates control of the direction of thrust without the need for a complex gimbal mechanism. In addition, it reduces the mass penalty associated with clustering multiple, independent thrusters. Several conceptual designs are presented, and the thrust steering performance is discussed. Electrical propulsion sub-system trade-offs associated with such an architecture are presented. Example mission applications and associated mass and cost benefit estimates finally illustrate this study.

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