The present disclosure relates to the technical field of space electric propulsion of spacecrafts, and discloses a thrust-quantitatively-controllable and self-neutralizable Kaufman ion thruster and a use method thereof. The Kaufman ion thruster includes a discharge chamber, a central cathode, a gas supply assembly, a steel magnetic assembly, an insulating barrier and a grid system, wherein the central cathode is coaxially inserted in the center of a front panel; the gas supply assembly includes an electronegative working substance gas source, a conventional working substance gas source, N electronegative working medium gas supply pipes and N working medium gas supply pipes; the insulating barrier includes a central connecting rod and 2N fins. Self-neutralization can be achieved without the need of neutralizers. In addition, the center-oriented thrust modes can be used for spacecraft orbit control; and the eccentric thrust mode can be used for spacecraft attitude adjustment.

Device (52) for regulating the rate of flow of propellant fluid for an electric thruster, of the thermo-capillary device type comprising at least one capillary duct that is electrically conductive and capable of regulating the rate of flow of propellant fluid under the action of a change in temperature of the duct, characterized in that said at least one capillary duct comprises a nickel-based alloy.

Aspects disclosed herein include graphite and hexagonal boron nitride bimaterials, methods of making these bimaterials, and electric propulsion devices or thrusters with these bimaterials. Aspects disclosed herein include electric propulsion devices comprising: at least one portion comprising or formed of a monolithic bimaterial; wherein the monolithic bimaterial comprises a graphite material and a hexagonal boron nitride material; and wherein the graphite material and hexagonal boron nitride material are monolithically integrated in the bimaterial.

An electrospray apparatus comprising a capillary emitter.

A propulsion device for vehicles, such as a spacecraft operating within a vacuum configured to ionize a fuel gas. Specifically, a soft ionization system pulls electrons from passing gas molecules directly into conductors and introduces ionized gas molecules into a static accelerating field. The ionized gas is utilized at a point of creation such that a chamber, housing, or channel to contain the ionized gas is not required.

One or more embodiments relates to an air-breathing plasma thruster including a thruster wall, an anode, a cathode, and at least one ring electrode. The thruster wall defines a cylindrical channel, the cylindrical channel having a first end and an opposing second end in fluid communication with the first end, where the cylindrical channel is adapted to receive incoming airflow. The anode is at the first end of the channel and the cathode is at the second end of the channel opposite the first end. The at least one ring electrode is positioned on the thruster wall.

Dual mode engine for propelling spacecraft, including combustion chamber having flange end, open nozzle end, and enclosed chamber portion extending therebetween, propellant tank in fluidic communication with combustion chamber, electronic controller, power source operationally connected to electronic controller, and fluid flow motivator operationally connected to electronic controller and connected in fluidic communication with propellant tank. Engine has chemical propulsion portion with propellant inlet port operationally connected to combustion chamber and disposed adjacent flange end, ignition trigger electrode positioned in combustion chamber adjacent propellant inlet port and operationally connected to electronic controller and operationally connected to power source propellant inlet port fluidically connected to tank electric propulsion portion with two electrodes ionizing propellant positioned in combustion chamber adjacent nozzle end, plurality of attitude control thrusters operationally connected to electronic controller and in fluidic communication with propellant tank, and plurality of valves, each fluidically connected between attitude control thruster and propellant tank.

A system for mitigating backsputter to a thruster in a propulsion test facility includes a plate disposed in an output plume of the thruster and a magnetic field generator disposed about or at the plate and configured to generate a magnetic field between the thruster and the plate. The magnetic field generator is oriented such that a magnetic field is generated transverse to the output plume.

A method of operating a spacecraft propulsion system comprises injecting electrons into the plasma surrounding the spacecraft prior to creating the stream of ions, and after commencing creation of the ion stream, continuing the injection of electrons in an amount sufficient to maintain the spacecraft at a positive potential. This method may be implemented in a single thruster. In spacecraft with multiple thrusters the same method may be implemented in each thruster. Where the propulsion system comprises a plurality of thrusters, the method may comprise: operating at least one of the thrusters as a drive thruster, and operating at least one of the thrusters as an auxiliary or reserve thruster. The electron source of the at least one auxiliary thruster may be operated before creation of the ion stream to inject the electrons into the plasma surrounding the spacecraft.

An ion source, in particular an ion thruster for propelling a spacecraft, comprises a reservoir for a propellant that has a solid state and can be liquefied into a liquid state, a heater for liquefying the propellant in the reservoir, an emitter in fluid communication with the reservoir for receiving a stream of liquefied propellant from the reservoir, an extractor facing the emitter for extracting ions of the liquefied propellant from the emitter and accelerating the extracted ions away from the emitter, wherein at least one baffle is arranged upstream of the emitter in the stream of the propellant to the emitter.