Abstract: The needs of low power electric propulsion system is increasing with the development of Small Satellite. Stationary Plasma Thruster (SPT) is the first candidate for small satellite because of their relative good characteristics and rather high reliability. In this paper, a SPT thruster was operated below their rated power, and their discharge characteristics, thrust, thrust efficiency, specific impulse, and thrust cost at different operating parameters were investigated experimentally. The results show that the mid size SPT operated at low power mode can do the same with the small size SPT, as the mid size SPT operated at low power mode have stable discharge feature and thrust.

Key words: Electric propulsion;Plasma engine;Low power mode;Energetic property;Feasibility test

摘要： 稳态等离子体推力器 (SPT)是技术性能和空间适应性良好的电推力器 ,是小卫星空间动力的理想选择。从实验的角度研究了额定功率为 6 6 0W的SPT在低于其额定功率下运行 ,推力器的放电特性、推力特性、推力效率、比冲等性能随推力器工作参数的变化。实验结果表明 :6 6 0W的SPT推力器在低于其额定功率下工作 ,具有稳定的放电特性和确定的推力性能 ,可以将较大尺寸的SPT推力器在低功率模式下运行来替代小尺寸SPT推力器的作用

关键词: 电推进;等离子体发动机;低功率模式,能量性能;可行性试验