Open AccessFeatures of using plasma flows to compensate the aerodynamic drag of mini-satellites moving in the ionosphere
Author(s) -
L. V. Nosachev,
В. В. Скворцов,
A. Yu Urusov,
А. А. Успенский,
Ja. Sh. Flaxman
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/1383/1/012029
Subject(s) - plasma , ion thruster , drag , aerodynamics , ionosphere , ion , mechanics , ionization , oscillation (cell signaling) , aerospace engineering , physics , aerodynamic drag , ion source , computational physics , atomic physics , environmental science , chemistry , geophysics , engineering , biochemistry , quantum mechanics
The possibilities of using plasma flows formed in electric jet engines (EJE) are considered. One of the variants of the EJE construction are ion sources with multi-cell ion-optical systems used to compensate the aerodynamic drag of mini-satellites in the Earth’s ionosphere with the aim of ensuring long-term operation of the latter at low flight altitudes (∼180–220 km). The analysis of methods of simulation of the operation of such engines together with air intakes under ground conditions is given. The possibility of using plasma-ion sources producing molecular beams of nitrogen or air ions with low (orbital) flight speeds as a source of the free flow in the simulations is considered. A source with volumetric ionization of the working gas and electron oscillation in the magnetic field in a chamber between the walls held at the cathode potential and a large multi-cell aperture of the ion–optical system is used to create the flow. The results of the studies of the operation of a plasma–ion engine (PIE) together with air intake obtained by the gas-dynamic simulation method are presented. The possibility of a high performance of the engine under non-standard conditions is shown. It is found that a stable operation of the PIE can be realized at pressures of 6⋅10 −5 –10 −4 Torr in its chamber, which is important for matching the engine with the air intake.