The D-100 performance and plume characterization on krypton
The performance of a D-100 thruster with anode layer, designed to operate on xenon at a nominal operating power of 4.5 kW, was investigated during operation on krypton. This evaluation was preliminary to a more thorough investigation of D-100 operation on alternative propellants, such as mixtures of krypton and xenon. Several operating regimes were evaluated ranging in power from 0.9 to 4.5kW. Two of these regimes were explored extensively using Faraday, RPA and emissive probes, with the second regime being of particular importance for orbit raising missions. Direct thrust measurements were taken with an inverted ballistic pendulum thrust stand. Thrust was also calculated using average velocity and ion density measurements, and this method yielded results in agreement with the thrust stand data. Thruster performance was compared to operation on Xe and showed a 20% efficiency loss at the same specific impulse during operation on krypton.
