Advanced Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Washington
Aviation & Aerospace - , Washington, United States
Advanced Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Washington Employees
Advanced Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Washington Details
Chemical propulsion has limited space applications as the fuel exhaust velocity is slow relative to the velocity required to move efficiently through the solar system. The slow exhaust velocity and inherently high mass of chemical propulsion thrusters result in long mission durations for destinations far from Earth. For example, the Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977, took over 30 years to leave the solar system - this is clearly longer than is feasible for a manned mission.The APL researches and develops techniques that can provide substantial reductions in cost and trip times by increasing the efficiency and exhaust velocity of thrusters. To achieve these efficiencies, we use electric propulsion systems to create electric and magnetic fields that accelerate the propellant (plasma) to velocities more than an order of magnitude higher than what chemical propulsion can achieve. We also look at how these electric propulsion systems can be used for high-altitude atmospheric operation in pressure regime between where typical propeller (higher pressure) and in-space chemical (lower pressure) propulsion systems can operate.
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