Vibration Test of a Breadboard Gimbal for the NEXT Ion Engine

“…The mass of the gimbal is less than 6 kg (lighter than the Dawn gimbal used for the smaller NSTAR thruster), and has a two-axis range of motion: ±19°, ±17°. The gimbal has successfully completed integration and functional testing with the PM thruster, Figure 9, and has passed two qualification level vibration tests [28] and low-level shock tests, with minor issues. Few if any modifications are anticipated to transition to flight.…”

Section: Gimbalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technology Readiness of the NEXT Ion Propulsion System

Benson

Patterson

2008

2008 IEEE Aerospace Conference

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Abstract-The NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) ion propulsion system has been in advanced technology development under the NASA In-Space Propulsion Technology project. The highest fidelity hardware planned has now been completed by the government/industry team, including: a flight prototype model (PM) thruster, an engineering model (EM) power processing unit, EM propellant management assemblies, a breadboard gimbal, and control unit simulators. Subsystem and system level technology validation testing is in progress. To achieve the objective Technology Readiness Level 6, environmental testing is being conducted to qualification levels in ground facilities simulating the space environment. Additional tests have been conducted to characterize the performance range and life capability of the NEXT thruster. This paper presents the status and results of technology validation testing accomplished to date, the validated subsystem and system capabilities, and the plans for completion of this phase of NEXT development. The next round of competed planetary science mission announcements of opportunity, and directed mission decisions, are anticipated to occur in 2008 and 2009. Progress to date, and the success of on-going technology validation, indicate that the NEXT ion propulsion system will be a primary candidate for mission consideration in these upcoming opportunities.

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“…Gimbal S/N 001 was vibrated with a thruster mass model under identical random vibration loads as to be used for the testing described herein. 15 …”

Section: American Institute Of Aeronautics and Astronauticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The breadboard gimbal was successfully subjected to vibration testing with a thruster mass model in an earlier test. 15 The objectives of the environmental test program were as follows:…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Testing of the NEXT PM1 Ion Engine

Snyder¹,

Anderson²,

Noord³

et al. 2007

43rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference &Amp;amp; Exhibit

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The NEXT propulsion system is an advanced ion propulsion system presently under development that is oriented towards robotic exploration of the solar system using solar electric power. The subsystem includes an ion engine, power processing unit, feed system components, and thruster gimbal. The Prototype Model engine PM1 was subjected to qualification-level environmental testing to demonstrate compatibility with environments representative of anticipated mission requirements. Thruster functional testing was performed before and after the vibration and thermal-vacuum tests. Random vibration testing, conducted with the thruster mated to the breadboard gimbal, was executed at 10.0 G rms for two minutes in each of three axes. Thermal-vacuum testing included a deep cold soak of the engine to temperatures of -168 °C and thermal cycling from -120 °C to 203 °C. Although the testing was largely successful, several issues were identified including the fragmentation of potting cement on the discharge and neutralizer cathode heater terminations during vibration which led to abbreviated thermal testing, and generation of particulate contamination from manufacturing processes and engine materials. Thruster performance was nominal throughout the test program, with minor variations in some engine operating parameters likely caused by facility effects. Discharge cathode ignition times, however, were found to have a significant dependence on engine temperature. There were no significant changes in engine performance as characterized by engine operating parameters, ion optics performance measurements, and beam current density measurements, indicating no significant changes to the hardware as a result of the environmental testing. In general, the NEXT PM1 engine and the breadboard gimbal were found to be well-designed against environmental requirements based on the results reported herein, although there were issues uncovered during the testing. After resolution of the findings from this test program the hardware environmental qualification program can proceed with confidence.

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Vibration Test of a Breadboard Gimbal for the NEXT Ion Engine

Cited by 10 publications

References 3 publications

NEXT Ion Propulsion System Development Status and Performance

NEXT Ion Propulsion System Development Status and Performance

Technology Readiness of the NEXT Ion Propulsion System

Environmental Testing of the NEXT PM1 Ion Engine

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