Power-to-Thrust Analysis: Investigating feasibility of Ionic Thruster Performance for Space Launch

Abstract

This research essentially aims to investigate the power-to-thrust ratio of a smaller sized ionic thruster designed and built by me and ultimately aims to explore its feasibility for space launch missions by scaling it up to traditional sizes by looking at the ratio. Furthermore, the report will also investigate its scalability, compare theoretical data with the experimental ones for experimental validation, and potential optimizations for maximum thrust. Estimating for larger sized models in vacuum will be essential to understand this type of thruster systems application in space launch, and together with theoretically discussing the variations that could be implemented into the model, this report will investigate if this type of electric propulsion, propulsion systems that use electric or magnetic fields to accelerate charged particles (ions) or plasma, can be an alternative for traditionally used chemical propulsion. In the end, this report will discuss, and potentially challenge, the common view on electric propulsion and its unapplicable design for space launch.