The USAF Electric Propulsion Research Program

The USAF Electric Propulsion Research Program
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Total Pages: 11
Release: 2000
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ISBN:

To provide enhanced satellite maneuvering capability at reduced cost, the United States Air Force (USAF) has developed a coordinated research program within the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and the AFOSR European Office of Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD). Research direction for these efforts comes primarily from Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) in the form of a Strategic Master Plan (SMP). The SMP provides a 25-year AF plan, detailed in terms of near-term (2000-2007), mid-term (2008-2013), and far- term (2014-2025) development priorities. AFRL and AFOSR perform the mission analysis required to determine the optimal propulsion system for the AFSPC missions, and then develops research programs to develop the 4 technology needed to achieve these missions. EOARD interacts with AFRL and AFOSR to develop research at European laboratories that will directly feed into the AFOSR and AFRL research programs. Near-term missions are generally served through commercial contracts at the System Program Office (SPO) level.

The USAF Electric Propulsion Research Program

The USAF Electric Propulsion Research Program
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 14
Release: 2001
Genre:
ISBN:

All overview of current electric propulsion research and development efforts within the United States Air Force is presented. The Air Force supports electric propulsion primarily through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the AFOSR European Office of Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD). Overall direction for the programs comes from Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), with AFRL mission analysis used to define specific technological advances needed to meet AFSPC mission priorities. AFOSR fluids basic research in electric propulsion throughout the country in both academia and industry. The AFRL Propulsion Directorate conducts electric propulsion efforts in basic research engineering development, and space flight experiments. EOARD supports research at foreign laboratories that feeds directly into AFOSR and AFRL research programs. Current research efforts fall into 3 main categories defined loosely by the thruster power level. All three agencies are conducting research at the low-power regime (P 200W), in support of emerging USAF microsatellite missions. Efforts in the mid-power range (500W to 5kW) is being shifted from research and development to thruster/spacecraft integration issues. The high power regime (P 30kW) is realizing increased emphasis.