Thruster

HiPEP Multiple-Cathode Discharge Chamber (MCDC)

LM4 operation with beam extraction in PEPL LVTF (chamber lights on). The engine is mounted on the thrust stand. The camera in mounted to an arm (shown in foreground) that is attached to a rotational theta table mounted above the engine.

Developed
?

Tested at PEPL
2004 – 2005

Developer
NASA GRC

NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) developed the 30-kW High Power Electric Propulsion (HiPEP) ion thruster for NASA’s nuclear-powered Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO). During 2002-2005, the primary objective of the NASA-GRC funded Multiple-Cathode Discharge Chamber (MCDC) project was to investigate the benefits of using two or more discharge cathodes to extend thruster life for JIMO.

Photograph of the HIPEP MCDC ion collection grid showing the button probe locations.
Photograph of the HiPEP multiple-cathode discharge chamber in operation.

Selected Publications

  • The H9 Magnetically Shielded Hall Thruster

    Hofer, R.R., Cusson, S.E., Lobbia, R.B., and Gallimore, A.D.

    35th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Atlanta,GA, IEPC-2017-232, 2017

  • Performance of the H9 Magnetically Shielded Hall Thrusters

    Cusson, S. E., Hofer, R. R., Lobbia, R. B., Jorns, B. A., and Gallimore, A. D.

    35th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Atlanta,GA, IEPC-2017-239, 2017