An Overview of the Air Force's Electric Propulsion Program

An Overview of the Air Force's Electric Propulsion Program
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 8
Release: 1993
Genre:
ISBN:

This paper discusses the electric propulsion technology development efforts being pursued by the United States Air Force. Discussion is provided on the electric propulsion efforts of Phillips Laboratory's Propulsion Directorate in basic research, exploratory development, as well as the Advanced Technology Transition Development effort that will result in a space flight experiment of a 26 kilo-watt arcjet. Also discussed is Phillips Laboratory's ELITE/SSTAR program and a brief discussion of the Aerospace Corporation electric propulsion efforts in support of the Air force's Space and Missile Systems Center.

Overview of the USAF Electric Propulsion Program

Overview of the USAF Electric Propulsion Program
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 2
Release: 2001
Genre:
ISBN:

An 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 priorities. AFOSR funds 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 AFSR 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 200 W), in support of emerging USAF microsatellite missions. Efforts in the mid-power range (500 W to 5 kW) are being shifted from research and development to thruster/spacecraft integration issues. The high power regime (P 30 kW) is realizing increased emphasis.

A Review of United States Air Force and Department of Defense Aerospace Propulsion Needs

A Review of United States Air Force and Department of Defense Aerospace Propulsion Needs
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2007-01-14
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309102472

Rocket and air-breathing propulsion systems are the foundation on which planning for future aerospace systems rests. A Review of United States Air Force and Department of Defense Aerospace Propulsion Needs assesses the existing technical base in these areas and examines the future Air Force capabilities the base will be expected to support. This report also defines gaps and recommends where future warfighter capabilities not yet fully defined could be met by current science and technology development plans.

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.

The USAF Electronic Propulsion Research Program

The USAF Electronic Propulsion Research Program
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2002
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 (BOARD). 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 funds 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. BOARD 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 200 W), in support of emerging USAF microsatellite missions. Efforts in the mid-power range (500 W to 5 kW) is being shifted from research and development to thruster/spacecraft integration issues. The high power regime (P 30 kW) is realizing increased emphasis.

The USAF Electric Propulsion Research Program

The USAF Electric Propulsion Research Program
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 11
Release: 2000
Genre:
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.

Electric Propulsion: An Introduction and Development Status

Electric Propulsion: An Introduction and Development Status
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2002
Genre:
ISBN:

Electric Propulsion (EP): (1) Decreases spacecraft fuel fraction; (2) Increases spacecraft capability; (3) Enables new missions. USAF has selected Hall thrusters for intensive development due to optimum I(sub sp) for many AF missions. Integration issues are a concern, and the focus of current research.