Experimental studies of the components of high-frequency ion engine RD0310

Testing of prototypes of equipment is the most important stage of their development. The article considers a low-power high-frequency ion engine RD0310 which was manufactured and tested at the production base of the KBHA joint-stock company. The tests were carried out in a vacuum chamber with a volume of 5.66 m³, the vacuum pumping system of which allows for a pressure inside the chamber of no more than 1·10^-5mm Hg. with xenon consumption of up to 0.7 mg/s, which is as close as possible to space conditions. During the tests, the cyclogram of starting and stopping the engine was worked out, and the thrust dependences on the flow rate of the working fluid, the power of the high-frequency generator and the voltage at the emission electrode were obtained. According to the test results, stable engine operation was achieved and the following values were obtained: the thrust of 9.1 mN at a specific impulse of 3740 s.