KELDYSH RESEARCH CENTER
Developments
Electric propulsion
The present day phase of space technology development is characterized by expansion of
the use of electric propulsion of different types and tasks performed using them.
The efficiency of using various types of electric propulsion (EP) for solving tasks of
SC working orbit correction is supported by many years's experience of using EP on SC for
different applications and, primarily, on geostationary communication SC which are one of
the most popular families of SC. Extension of mass and on-orbit lifetime of geostationary SC
is an objective trend in growth in space communication service demand. There are no
alternatives for EP as thrusters for orbital correction systems for geostationary orbits
with an orbit lifetime of 15 years and more.
KeRC is actively engaged in activities on EP. Major emphasis is placed on
development of Xenon Hall and
ion thrusters.
Thrusters of different standard sizes are developed ranging
from 50 W to 6 kW power. The level of maturity of developed thrusters ranges from laboratory
to flight models. At present, one of Hall thrusters developed at KeRC, that is KM-5, is
under flight tests in the structure of the serial geostationary communication SC
"Express-A" №4 that was developed at NPO PM. The satellite was inserted in geostationary orbit
on the 10th of June, 2002 by means of the "Proton" LV. The production and
test
facilities of KeRC allow realization of the full cycle of full-scale
production of thruster flight prototypes.
Results were obtained on key lines of Hall thrusters development, such as
multimode thrusters, high-Isp thrusters (up to 3000s), low-power thrusters,
steerable thrusters.
Hall thrusters
|
Thruster
|
Power, kW |
Thrust, mN |
Stage
of development |
| KM-37 | 0.1...0.3 | 5...18 | Laboratory model |
| KM-45 | 0.2...0.45 | 10...28 | Flight model |
| KM-60 | 0.45...0.9 | 30...50 | Engineering model |
| KM-100 | 1.5...2.3 | 50...90 | Laboratory model |
| KM-5 | 1.35...2.5 | 75..140 | Flight model |
| KM-7 | 3.5...6.0 | 200...450 | Flight model |
Ion thrusters
|
Thruster
|
Power, kW
|
Thrust, mN |
Stage
of development |
| IT-50 | 0.05...0.15 | 2...5 | Laboratory model |
| IT-100 | 0.15...0.5 | 7...18 | Laboratory model |
| IT-300 | 1.5...2.5 | 60...110 | Laboratory model |
The shortened name (of the enterprise) -
SSC Keldysh Research Centre
Tel: 7-495-456-4608
Fax: 7-495-456-8228
E-mail: kerc@elnet.msk.ru
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