Form of electrically powered spacecraft propulsion
An MPD thruster during test firing
A magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster (MPDT) is a form of electrically powered spacecraft propulsion which uses the Lorentz force (the force on a charged particle by an electromagnetic field) to generate thrust. It is sometimes referred to as Lorentz Force Accelerator (LFA) or (mostly in Japan) MPD arcjet.
Generally, a gaseous material is ionized and fed into an acceleration chamber, where the magnetic and electric fields are created using a power source. The particles are then propelled by the Lorentz force resulting from the interaction between the current flowing through the plasma and the magnetic field (which is either externally applied or induced by the current) out through the exhaust chamber. Unlike chemical propulsion, there is no combustion of fuel. As with other electric propulsion variations, both specific impulse and thrust increase with power input, while thrust per watt drops.
There are two main types of MPD thrusters, applied-field and self-field. Applied-field thrusters have magnetic rings surrounding the exhaust chamber to produce the magnetic field, while self-field thrusters have a cathode extending through the middle of the chamber. Applied fields are necessary at lower power levels, where self-field configurations are too weak. Various propellants such as xenon, neon, argon, hydrogen, hydrazine, and lithium have been used, with lithium generally being the best performer.[1]
According to Edgar Choueiri magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters have input power 100–500 kilowatts, exhaust velocity 15–60 kilometers per second, thrust 2.5–25 newtons and efficiency 40–60 percent. However, additional research has shown that exhaust velocities can exceed 100 kilometers per second.[2][3]
One potential application of magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters is the main propulsion engine for heavy cargo and piloted space vehicles (example engine for human mission to Mars).[2][3]
^ ab"Choueiri, Edgar Y. (2009). New dawn of electric rocket. Next-Generation Thruster". Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
^ abChoueiri, Edgar Y. (2009) New dawn of electric rocket Scientific American 300, 58–65 doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0209-58
and 24 Related for: Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster information
A magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster (MPDT) is a form of electrically powered spacecraft propulsion which uses the Lorentz force (the force on a charged...
force. Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters and lithium Lorentz force accelerator (LiLFA) thrusters use roughly the same idea. The LiLFA thruster builds...
electrically Hall-effect thruster, a type of ion thruster Pulsed inductive thruster, a pulsed form of ion thrusterMagnetoplasmadynamicthruster, electric propulsion...
"linear oscillating mechanism" reactionless drive; the gyroscopic inertial thruster is perhaps the best known example of a "rotating mechanism" reactionless...
The EmDrive is a concept for a thruster for spacecraft, first written about in 2001. It is purported to generate thrust by reflecting microwaves inside...
A colloid thruster (or "electrospray thruster") is a type of low thrust electric propulsion rocket engine that uses electrostatic acceleration of charged...
M-Drive or M-Thruster or variation may refer to: Magnetohydrodynamic drive, MHD drive usually used to propel watercraft Magnetoplasmadynamicthruster, MPD thruster...
made out of simple materials including a glass soda bottle. Magnetoplasmadynamicthrusters (MPD) use the Lorentz force (a force resulting from the interaction...
The gridded ion thruster is a common design for ion thrusters, a highly efficient low-thrust spacecraft propulsion method running on electrical power...
A cold gas thruster (or a cold gas propulsion system) is a type of rocket engine which uses the expansion of a (typically inert) pressurized gas to generate...
storable propellant after passing it over a catalyst bed. The power for the thruster comes from the high pressure gas created during the decomposition reaction...
A pulsed plasma thruster (PPT), also known as a plasma jet engine, is a form of electric spacecraft propulsion. PPTs are generally considered the simplest...
reach orbit. Well under a tenth of orbital velocity from a small rocket thruster is enough to raise perigee if a design prioritizes minimizing such, but...
Actuated Orbits, the wingless electromagnetic air vehicle, and magnetoplasmadynamicthruster (which does use propellant). Electrohydrodynamics is another...
and reaction control thrusters: Apollo command and service module RCS, Space Shuttle OMS and RCS; Ariane 5 EPS; Draco thrusters used by the SpaceX Dragon...
electric power for its Hall-effect thrusters for maneuverability, which can be supported by chemical monopropellant thrusters for high-thrust attitude control...
Anflo, K.; Moore, S.; King, P. Expanding the ADN-based Monopropellant Thruster Family. 23rd Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites. SSC09-II-4...
A vacuum arc thruster (VAT) is a form of electric spacecraft propulsion. It uses a vacuum arc discharge, across an insulator, between two electrodes to...
pulse propulsion Antimatter rocket Spacecraft electric propulsion Ion thruster Nuclear electric rocket Nuclear power in space Nuclear propulsion Nuclear...