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At least 433 records · Page 24

Electrostatic Probe Measurements of Plasma Surrounding Three 25,000 Foot Per Second Reentry Flight Experiments

A high-altitude electrostatic probe experiment is described and data are presented for three RAM C reentries at velocities of approximately 25 OOO feet per second. The electron density profiles inferred from the probe measurements are compared with theoretical calculations, and the probable cause of significant disagreement is briefly discussed. Probe measurements during material-addition sequences for radio-blackout alleviation are presented, and comparisons of probe measurements with other pertinent diagnostic measurements are made.

W Linwood Jones, Jr↗

Field evaporation ion source with possible application to electrostatic propulsion

Field evaporation of solid metal electrodes has been proposed as an ion source for an electrostatic propulsion device. The chief advantage over existing ion sources is the prospect of 100 percent fuel utilization efficiency. This advantage arises as a result of the elimination of the need for a gaseous precursor state for propellant ionization. The attainment of required high surface field strengths is achieved through field-induced extrusion of the electrode geometry at elevated temperatures. Contributions of both surface and bulk transport mechanisms are taken into account.

Weizer, V. G.↗

The geometric factor of a cylindrical plate electrostatic analyzer

A method for calculating the geometric factor of cylindrical plate electrostatic energy analyzers with various detector geometries is described. The effects of the fringe-field are estimated. For a special simple case an exact geometric factor is calculated enabling an estimate of the inaccuracies of the approximations used in other cases. The results of some calculations are presented and a simple approximate expression for the geometric factor is deduced.

Johnstone, A. D.↗

Electrostatic-probe measurements of plasma parameters for two reentry flight experiments at 25000 feet per second

Unique plasma diagnostic measurements at high altitudes from two geometrically similar blunt body reentry spacecraft using electrostatic probe rakes are presented. The probes measured the positive ion density profiles (shape and magnitude) during the two flights. The probe measurements were made at eight discrete points (1 cm to 7 cm) from the vehicle surface in the aft flow field of the spacecraft over the altitude range of 85.3 to 53.3 km (280,000 to 175,000 ft) with measured densities of 10 to the 8th power to 10 to the 12th power electrons/cu cm, respectively. Maximum reentry velocity for each spacecraft was approximately 7620 meters/second (25,000 ft/sec). In the first flight experiment, water was periodically injected into a flow field which was contaminated by ablation products from the spacecraft nose region. The nonablative nose of the second spacecraft thereby minimized flow field contamination. Comparisons of the probe measured density profiles with theoretical calculations are presented with discussion as to the probable cause of significant disagreement. Also discussed are the correlation of probe measurements with vehicle angle of attack motions and the good high altitude agreement between electron densities inferred from the probe measurements, VHF antenna measurements, and microwave reflectometer diagnostic measurements.

Jones, W. L., Jr.↗