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We report here on initial studies of a pulsed hydromagnetic plasma gun thatcan operate in either a pre-filled or a gas-puff mode on demand. These modesenable agile and responsive performance through tunable thrust and specificimpulse. Operation with a molecular nitrogen propellant is demonstrated to showthat the hydromagnetic thruster is a candidate technology for air-harvestingand drag compensation in very low Earth orbit. Dual mode operation is achievedby leveraging propellant gas dynamics to change the fill fraction and flowcollisionality within the thruster. This results in the formation of distinctmodes that are characterized by the current-driven hydromagnetic waves thatthey allow, namely a magneto-deflagration and magneto-detonation respectively.These modes can be chosen by changing the time propellant is allowed to diffuseinto the thruster based on the desired performance. Using time-of-flightemission diagnostics to characterize near-field flow velocities, we find that arelatively dramatic transition occurs between modes, with exhaust velocitiesranging from 10 km/s to 55 km/s in deflagration and detonation regimes,respectively. Simulations of the processed mass bit offers a first glimpse intopossible thruster performance confirming a broad range and tradeoff betweenspecific impulse (2600 - 5600 sec) and thrust (up to 31 mN) when operating in aburst mode.

Dual Mode Operation of a Hydromagnetic Plasma Thruster to Achieve Tunable Thrust and Specific Impulse