VERY HIGH-PERFORMANCE THRUSTERS FOR HIGH POWER ELECTRIC PROPULSION EXPLORATION MISSIONS EXPRO+

Objective: To develop a breadboard model of a thruster for High power Electric Propulsion (EP) Exploration missions, and model it based on the tested performance.Description: Future Exploration missions indicate an increasing demand for high power, high Isp and high thrust propulsion systems and specially high-power efficiency. The Gridded Ion thrusters demonstrated the highest thruster efficiencies between the already tested electric propulsion (EP) systems. However, although EP systems are already under qualification considering gridded ion thrusters with input power capability up to approx. 8kW, gridded ion thruster technologies require further development to reach very high powers of up to 20 kW or higher per thruster and specifically very high Isps necessary for advanced interplanetary exploration missions. A good understanding of any performance limitations of this technology, along with verified performance capabilities in terms of thrust, Isp and lifetime can enable mission designers and propulsion architects to choose the optimumsystem and optimum number of the thrusters for missions with a electric power capacity of from 30kW to over100 kW electric power. This activity tackles the technological problems of enhancing the established technology of gridded ion thrusters to high powers. Herethe design changes towards the much higher powers, Isps and performance values, like much higher voltages, can be implemented and tested to detect and overcome the challenges. The thruster breadboard developed in this activity shall demonstrate the capability ofoperating with up to 20 kW of input power; compatible with Xe or Kr as propellant; and provide specific impulse over 6500 seconds when operating with Xenon and over 8000s with Kr. To minimise the heat load of the thruster, the electrical efficiency of the thruster should be around 90%. The activity encompasses the following tasks: - Design an EP thruster including the sizing based on the scaling laws adopted ion optics, - Manufacture a breadboard model of an EP thruster based on the best practices - Test it in representative environment to acquire the performance. - Model a preliminary architecture and conceptual design of a High power EP in the powerclass of 30-100KW based on the thruster technology studied in the previous tasks.Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activities in open competition limited to the-non-Large-System Integrators. For additional information please go to:http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Business_with_ESA/Small_and_Medium_Sized_Enterprises/Opportunities_for_SMEs/Procurement_policy_on_fair_access_for_SMEs_-_the_C1-C4_Clauses