Plans for an in-orbit test of a UK rare gas ion thruster
Andrew Martin, A. BOND, K.E. Lavender · 1987
As part of the developmental work on a UK rare gas ion thruster an exercise has been carried out to provide an initial assessment of the integration of such a thruster into a technology demonstrator satellite. The aim of the mission is to provide an in-orbit flight test of the thruster system, and to evaluate the effect of the thruster ion beam upon the spacecraft and upon the surrounding space plasma. Any interactions with communications links will also be assessed, to check that thruster operation and associated noise levels do not have any unacceptable effect upon the communications. 6 references.