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A prototype 15 cm diameter thruster, operated in low-magnetic-field mode, underwent initial thrust testing in 2010, however, a more complete testing method would be necessary to properly calculate the total thrust. Currently, the final thruster prototype is undergoing tests at the space
109:. In operation, there is a sharp boundary between the dense plasma inside the source region, and the less dense plasma in the exhaust, which is associated with a sharp change in electrical potential. The plasma properties change rapidly across this boundary, which is known as a
150:
is not needed, since there are equal numbers of electrons and (singly charged) positive ions emitted. So, with neither moving mechanical parts nor susceptibility to erosion, Charles explains, 'As long as you provide the power and the propellant you can go forever.'
171:, this type of thruster could also significantly reduce the length of interplanetary space trips. For example, a trip to Mars could be shortened to three months instead of the eight to nine months with conventional chemical rockets.
120:
away from the source region. Enough electrons escape the source region to ensure that the plasma in the exhaust is neutral overall. Like most ion propulsion devices, the HDLT is a low-thrust, high–specific-impulse
145:
designs. First, it creates an accelerating electric field without inserting unreliable components like high-voltage grids into the plasma (the only plasma-facing component is the robust plasma vessel); secondly, a
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orbit transfers and deep-space applications. While a typical design could provide a 50-year life span, or a saving of 1,000 pounds (450 kg) of launch weight for large
116:. The electrical potential is much higher inside the source region than in the exhaust, and this serves both to confine most of the electrons, and to accelerate the
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J Ling; M D West; T Lafleur; C Charles; R W Boswell (2010). "Thrust measurements in a low-magnetic field high-density mode in the helicon double layer thruster".
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in the prototype), but the magnetic field diverges and rapidly decreases in magnitude away from the source region, and might be thought of as a kind of magnetic
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The primary application for this thruster design is intended for satellite station-keeping, long-term
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emitted by the antenna causes the gas to break down and form a plasma. The antenna then excites a
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simulation facility dubbed "Wombat XL" located at the
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70:. In this thruster design, gas is injected into a tubular chamber (the
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in the prototype design) is coupled into a specially shaped
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wave in the plasma, which further heats the plasma.
54:
A helicon double-layer thruster (HDLT) is a type of
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319:"Australia Is Building a Pee-Powered Ion Thruster"
141:The HDLT has two main advantages over most other
240:"Testing ground set for plasma jar to the stars"
234:
232:
266:"Wombat puts electric rocket through its paces"
181:Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket
1112:
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46:, which is participating in its development.
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294:. Plasma Research Laboratory. Archived from
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27:. It was created by Australian scientist
829:Atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion
368:Plasma thruster tested for Mars mission
193:
1317:Differential technological development
373:Australia Building Ion Thruster (2012)
16:Prototype spacecraft propulsion engine
344:"How long would a trip to Mars take?"
203:Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
7:
42:The design has been verified by the
31:, based on a technology invented by
1406:Future-oriented technology analysis
317:Tarantola, Andrew (June 13, 2012).
734:Field-emission electric propulsion
97:The device has a roughly constant
14:
808:Microwave electrothermal thruster
1460:
1080:
101:in the source tube (supplied by
86:wrapped around the chamber. The
62:gas at high velocity to provide
938:Pulsed nuclear thermal rocket‎
834:High Power Electric Propulsion
390:Plasma Jar to the Stars (2014)
223:10.1088/0022-3727/43/30/305203
37:Australian National University
25:electric spacecraft propulsion
1:
1433:Technology in science fiction
793:Helicon double-layer thruster
762:Electrodeless plasma thruster
757:Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster
270:Stories of Australian Science
21:helicon double-layer thruster
1278:Laser communication in space
1510:
1438:Technology readiness level
1374:Technological unemployment
1456:
1421:Technological singularity
1381:Technological convergence
1078:
752:Pulsed inductive thruster
136:Mount Stromlo Observatory
1283:Orbital propellant depot
1240:Plasma propulsion engine
1235:Nuclear pulse propulsion
926:Nuclear pulse propulsion
685:Electric-pump-fed engine
585:Hybrid-propellant rocket
575:Liquid-propellant rocket
1386:Technological evolution
1359:Exploratory engineering
1220:Beam-powered propulsion
1202:Reusable launch vehicle
982:Beam-powered propulsion
955:Fission-fragment rocket
910:Nuclear photonic rocket
878:Nuclear electric rocket
644:Staged combustion cycle
580:Solid-propellant rocket
1396:Technology forecasting
1391:Technological paradigm
1364:Proactionary principle
1165:Non-rocket spacelaunch
1033:Non-rocket spacelaunch
883:Nuclear thermal rocket
783:Pulsed plasma thruster
209:(30). IOP Publishing.
111:current-free electric
1494:Spacecraft components
1489:Spacecraft propulsion
1322:Disruptive innovation
1128:Emerging technologies
699:Electrical propulsion
426:Spacecraft propulsion
74:) with one open end.
33:Professor Rod Boswell
1369:Technological change
1312:Collingridge dilemma
931:Antimatter-catalyzed
729:Hall-effect thruster
542:Solar thermal rocket
88:electromagnetic wave
1426:Technology scouting
1401:Accelerating change
1273:Interstellar travel
873:Direct Fusion Drive
788:Vacuum arc thruster
675:Pressure-fed engine
654:Gas-generator cycle
561:Chemical propulsion
498:Physical propulsion
292:"HDLT Applications"
215:2010JPhD...43D5203L
50:Theory of operation
1443:Technology roadmap
1087:Spaceflight portal
1053:Reactionless drive
1018:Aerogravity assist
858:Nuclear propulsion
383:2016-03-03 at the
378:ESA Propulsion Lab
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1003:Orbital mechanics
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803:Resistojet rocket
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668:Intake mechanisms
601:Liquid propellant
505:Cold gas thruster
29:Christine Charles
1501:
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1411:Horizon scanning
1327:Ephemeralization
1245:Helicon thruster
1230:Laser propulsion
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1068:Alcubierre drive
1058:Field propulsion
1008:Orbital maneuver
996:Related concepts
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714:Colloid thruster
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467:Specific impulse
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298:on March 2, 2011
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246:. March 11, 2014
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745:Electromagnetic
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450:Reaction engine
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76:Radio frequency
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23:is a prototype
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272:. May 16, 2014
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244:ResearchCareer
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99:magnetic field
80:13.56 MHz
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35:, both of the
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798:Arcjet rocket
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767:Plasma magnet
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659:Tap-off cycle
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628:Tripropellant
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532:Electric sail
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1352:Robot ethics
1244:
1225:Ion thruster
1195:Space tether
1175:Orbital ring
1085:
1028:Space launch
960:Fission sail
888:Radioisotope
792:
719:Ion thruster
637:Power cycles
623:Bipropellant
515:Steam rocket
510:Water rocket
347:. Retrieved
338:
326:. Retrieved
322:
312:
300:. Retrieved
296:the original
286:
274:. Retrieved
269:
260:
248:. Retrieved
243:
206:
202:
196:
158:
155:Applications
147:
143:ion thruster
140:
132:
130:) thruster.
123:
113:double layer
110:
96:
71:
53:
41:
20:
18:
1416:Moore's law
1347:Neuroethics
1342:Cyberethics
1170:Mass driver
1043:Aerocapture
1038:Aerobraking
919:Open system
903:"Lightbulb"
844:Mass driver
594:Propellants
525:Diffractive
148:neutralizer
72:source tube
1483:Categories
1307:Automation
1257:Solar sail
1212:Propulsion
1063:Warp drive
893:Salt-water
611:Hypergolic
520:Solar sail
188:References
169:satellites
68:spacecraft
1337:Bioethics
606:Cryogenic
103:solenoids
898:Gas core
433:Concepts
381:Archived
349:July 19,
328:July 19,
302:July 19,
276:July 19,
250:July 19,
183:(VASIMR)
175:See also
1180:Skyhook
987:Tethers
839:MagBeam
724:Gridded
479:Staging
472:Delta-v
362:Sources
323:Gizmodo
211:Bibcode
92:helicon
84:antenna
60:ionized
1332:Ethics
1300:Topics
1250:VASIMR
1152:Launch
1135:Fields
813:VASIMR
462:Thrust
440:Rocket
121:(high-
107:nozzle
64:thrust
1266:Other
822:Other
568:State
66:to a
1467:List
552:WINE
351:2016
330:2016
304:2016
278:2016
252:2016
163:-to-
118:ions
19:The
219:doi
165:GEO
161:LEO
44:ESA
1485::
321:.
268:.
242:.
231:^
217:.
207:43
205:.
138:.
127:sp
39:.
1120:e
1113:t
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124:I
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