Qualification test results of IAPS 8 cm ion thrusters
Two 8-cm-diameter 5-mN mercury ion thrusters with associated beam shields and gimbals have been fabricated and qualification-tested for the Ion Auxiliary Propulsion System (IAPS) flight test. Functional and performance tests of the thrusters, conducted before, during and after exposure to protoflight vibration and thermal vacuum conditions demonstrated no effects of the environmental exposure and little performance dispersion between the thrusters.