Recent advances in dual-mode Hall effect thruster development

Abstract

Two SNECMA's Hall-effect thrusters - the 1.5 kW class PPS/sup /spl reg//-1350G and the 5 kW class PPS/sup /spl reg//-X000ML were tested in a wide range of operation parameters. For instance, with a propellant mass-flow rate of 2.3 mg/s for the former and 5 mg/s for the latter, the discharge voltage was ramped up to 1000V. They demonstrated the flexibility in changing of operation parameters and promising performances from the point of view of the dual-mode operation. Particularities about the ion acceleration in the PPS/sup /spl reg//-X000ML are also presented and discussed in this contribution.