타이틀 |
28,000 Hour Xenon Hollow Cathode Life Test Results |
저자 |
Timothy R. Sarver-Verhey |
Keyword |
Hollow cathode; Inert gas; Xenon; Ion thruster; Plasma contactor; Electron source; |
URL |
http://gltrs.grc.nasa.gov/reports/1997/CR-97-206231.pdf |
보고서번호 |
NASA CR-97-206231 |
발행년도 |
1997 |
출처 |
NASA Glenn Research Center |
ABSTRACT |
The International Space Station Plasma Contactor System requires a hollow cathode assembly (HCA) with a lifetime of at least 18,000 hours. Critical components of the HCA include the hollow cathode and electron emitter. A series of hollow cathode wear tests was performed which included a life test operated at the maximum current of the HCA. This test sought to verify the hollow cathode design and contamination control protocols. The life test accumulated 27,800 hours of operation before failing to ignite. The hollow cathode exhibited relatively small changes in operating parameters over the course of the test. This life test is the longest duration test of a high current xenon hollow cathode reported to date.
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