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How do these tiny thrusters harness the enormous forces of the universe?
In the field of space exploration, advances in propulsion technology are critical to spacecraft operation and mission success. Among them, the Hall Effect Thruster (HET) is a revolutionary technology that uses electromagnetic force to generate propulsion without the need for traditional fuel combustion. How this type of thruster can harness the powerful force in the vast universe has become a hot topic of research for scientists and engineers.
Hall effect thrusters use magnetic fields to confine the movement of electrons, effectively accelerating the propellant and neutralizing the ions produced.
Principles of Hall Effect Thrusters
The working principle of Hall effect thrusters is quite simple yet profound. It uses an electric field to accelerate ions, which are produced by ionizing a propellant (such as xenon) under the influence of a strong electromagnetic field. Inside the thruster, the movement of electrons is constrained by a magnetic field, allowing them to continuously collide with atoms of the propellant to create ions. After the ions are generated, they will be accelerated by the electric field and ejected from the thrusters, driving the spacecraft forward.
Historical BackgroundHall effect thrusters were first independently researched and developed in the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1960s. While American scientists focused on developing gridded ion thrusters, the Soviet Union successfully transformed Hall effect thrusters into practical propulsion devices. Among them, the Soviet Union's SPT series of thrusters is the most representative design, and it first operated in space in 1971.
Since 1971, more than 240 Hall-effect thrusters have been operated in space with a 100% success rate.
Propellant Diversity
Hall effect thrusters can use a variety of propellants, the most common of which include xenon and krypton. Xenon is widely used because of its high weight and easy storage. However, due to the high cost of xenon, krypton becomes an economical choice. In recent years, SpaceX has begun using argon as a propellant, which not only effectively reduces costs but also improves the efficiency of the thruster.
Application in modern technology
Today, Hall-effect thrusters are widely used in commercial satellites for orbit-keeping maneuvers and orbit-raising. Hall effect thrusters will be used on the Psyche mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2023, to explore the asteroid 16 in the asteroid belt. In addition, China's Tiangong space station also uses this technology, indicating that the application of Hall effect thrusters is becoming more widespread.
Future Development
As technology advances, the design of Hall-effect thrusters is evolving. The 100 kW X3 grooved Hall thruster of the University of Michigan is a good example. Its thrust of 05.4 N indicates its potential for application in deep space exploration missions in the future. As space exploration becomes increasingly challenging, Hall thrusters will undoubtedly play an increasingly critical role in future space missions.
As humans explore space more and more deeply, how will the potential of Hall effect thrusters be further explored and realized?
