ISRU Based Electric Propulsion

Konstantinos Katsonis, Chloe Berenguer

Institution: DEDALOS Ltd., Thessaloniki, Greece

Project goal: Using of available in situ propelants constitutes a disruptive choice for electric propulsion. It allows for avoiding cumbersome propellant transfer and increases the thruster lifetime up to the erosion limit.
Typical ressources aimed nowdays are the Earth atmospheric remnants and the atmosphere of Mars. Embarked fuel as I and Xe may be used an initial propellant.

Date: 25 November 2016

Methods: Detailed Global Models pertaining to various feed components are used to support electric thrusters types. Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) is used for diagnostics in conjunction with the DGM results.