A multi-mission interplanetary probe using 3-kw solar electric propulsion
- Paper ID
IAF-67-44
- author
- company
TRW Systems Inc.
- country
U.S.A.
- year
1967
- abstract
The high performance potential possible with electric propulsion is best realized with missions demanding large velocity increments (/IV > 40,000 ft/sec) so that the high specific impulse can be translated into a large reduction in fuel requirements. Although the majority of projected, unmanned space missions can be adequately performed by the existing stable of chemical launch vehicles, certain important missions are not adequately accommodated and appear to be best accomplished by solar electric propulsion, delivering satisfactory payloads with superior cost effectiveness.