Arcjet Thruster Operated With Different Propellants

As a simple and reliable propulsion system, arcjet thrusters have been used in multiple satellite missions. The performance of an arcjet thruster is controlled by the characteristics of the arc-discharge behavior and the arc-electrode interactions to a large extent. The nozzle of an arcjet thruster is where the input electric energy is converted into kinetic energy. The nozzle images of an arcjet thruster operated with different propellants are presented in this paper.