The 6,500-H Life Test Results of 30 cm Diameter Ion Thruster

The life test of the 30 cm diameter ion thruster developed by Lanzhou institute physics began in Apr. 2018 and ended Jan. 2020, lasting 6,500 h. This paper introduces results 6,500-h completed on ground, including ground facility for test, variations thrusters working performance, times breakdown power restart, erosion key components. show that performance parameters, such as thrust, specific impulse efficiency, do not change obviously during magnetic field discharge chamber has no change. With increase time, increased significantly, whereas restart time decreased correspondingly. cathode orifice decreases gradually there is a blockage risk orifice. However, keeper increases presents an inverted cone pattern. decelerator grid aperture expanded from 1.6 to 1.8 mm 0 1,000 h slightly enlarged after that. accelerator presented linear enlargement but pits-and-grooves obvious.