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Royal Aircraft Establishment - The UK Ion Thruster System and a Proposed Future Programme

Foc auny years a number Of electric thruster sys tens have been under 
development in Europe for both che primary and secondary propulsion applications 
on a variety of spacecraft. Hore recently, the north—south station—keeping 
(nssk) mission has seemed the likely initial application Of this nev tech— 
nology. and the various European development agencies have tended to Concentrate 
their efforts on thrusters destined for this role. 
Progress has been sufficient 
in three countries, France, Germany and the UK, for their respective thruster 
systems to have reached the stage. at the time of writing, where a decision 
regarding further development to flight Status is very desirable. 
In March 1975 the French delegation to ESRO formally suggested that 
further simultaneous development of all European nssk thrusters would represent 
a considerable vaste of effort and resources. 
It vas proposed that ESRO should 
choose between the various technologies available, using, to quote, "criteria 
to be defined by consul tation between ESRO experts and Member States". 
It vas, 
however, stated that two thrusters should be selected for further work. 
In response to this initiative, the ESA Council issued a doctment in 
in which it vas stated that "it is highly desirable that the 
September 1975 
development of electric propulsion technology be pursued in Europe", primarily 
for nssk Of 400 to 800kg satellites having a lifetime of seven years or 
Having reached this conclusion, it vas decided to carry out a comparative study 
Of the various competing systems, Vith the objective of selecting one, or 
possi bly tVO, as being suitable for development to operational use On European 
co:munications spacecraft. 
This study vas delegated to the Attitude and Orbit Control Division Of 
ESTEC, vhieh has asked each interested national development agency to submit to 
ESTEC a comprehensive account of the developmental history, present Status and 
future development plans Of its candidate SYSt&.