European ERC granted ZARATHUSTRA to develop Electrodeless plasma thrusters

Credit: Nasa

Plasma propulsion thrusters are primarily used in satellites for orbit alignments and space travel, and there are some major advantages for using such thrusters as first they consume less propellant which let them be used for longer periods of time with a low quantity of fuel compared to chemical-based propulsion systems, which makes them economically feasible for missions. By current technologies, these types of thrusters use metal electrodes in contact with plasma for thrust, which brings a drawback that is the metal electrodes deteriorate over time until the thrusters stop working.

But ZARATHUSTRA (RevoutioniZing Advanced electRodeless plAsma THrUsters for Space TRAnsportation) (That's a mouthful) a European Research Council granted project at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) plans to develop a new technology of used electrodeless plasma thrusters.

Plasma thrusters reduce mission costs and offer major mass savings, now ZARATHUSTRA aims to make EPTs (Electrodeless Plasma Thrusters), which are currently under research. These thrusters produce thrust by providing power to plasma using electromagnetic waves whereas normal Plasma thrusters use metal electrodes in contact with plasma as they make a high current arc between the two electrodes, the cathode heats up and emits electrons that collide with the propellant gas to produce plasma, the current which runs back to power supply induces a magnetic field, which propels the plasma out of thruster, which produces thrust. Now EPT aims to use a cylindrical ionization chamber through which plasma will be ejected out of the chamber, accelerating it guides by a magnetic field. 

The advantages of using EPT would be that they would be lighter and simpler, and there will be no exposure to plasma erosion, and also be able to use any propellant which can be a major take for the EPT. Well that all sounds good but by current reports, EPTs are still under research and development and are far behind the performance of Plasma thrusters. Now the cylindrical shape of EPT itself brings up issues like the existence of a magnetically unshielded rear wall where the large portion of the plasma is lost, and a large plume divergence. 

To overcome such limitations of EPTs, Merino an associate professor at the Aerospace Engineering Department at the UC3M came up with a new thruster configuration based on a horseshoe-like geometry, which is being called Magentic Arch thruster which eliminates the problem of the rear wall being unshielded, it is reminiscent of a toroidal magnetic configuration in plasma fusion, and also uses a novel plasma acceleration, Magnetic Arch. And the plume divergence is lower.

Currently, the main objective of ZARATHUSTRA is to understand the underlying physics of electromagnetic field-plasma interaction in EPTs, develop a non-cylindrical magnetic arch electrodeless plasma thruster. The tests and experiments are being conducted in the University, research will use a multidisciplinary methodology to conduct these experiments, using simulations of the plasma and electromagnetic field, and using the University"s Plasma and Space Propulsion (EP2) Vacuum chambers to see how these thrusters work.

The success of the project will result in the first working theory of Electromagnetic heating and anomalous transport in EPTs, identifying the potential advantages and making a roadmap for its further development. This may bring a big change in space transportation. This project is a five-year project funded by ERC with 1.5 million euros (1.8 million dollars). 

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