ELECTRIC ROCKET ENGINE Russian patent published in 1995 - IPC

FIELD: engines for space vehicles. SUBSTANCE: electric rocket engine has charged-particle accelerator 17, electric power supply system 4, ionizing radiation source located on engine lateral surface, magnetic field coil 1 for creating magnetic field beyond the engine. Engine is provided with plasma source 5 connected with passage 6 and 7 for flow of propulsive mass whose inner walls 8 and 9 are made in form of electrodes generating bodies of revolution which are coaxial relative to magnetic field coil. Distance from walls to axis does not decrease in the direction of escape of propulsive mass. Engine is provided with neutralizer 32, nuclear charge storage, nuclear charge ejector; magnetic coil is connected with accumulation, storage and switching system which is also used for employing magnetic field energy for creating of thrust. Mounted at outlet of passages for flow of propulsive mass is system of electrodes 11 and 12 for creating electric field parallel with engine axis. Provided on upper end surface of engine is projection 13 which is coaxial to coil. Located at base of this projection is additional ionizing radiation source 14; on two sides of this source, electrodes 15 and 16 are located which have form of body of revolution coaxial to coil. Mounted on lateral surface of coil are two pairs of coaxial electrodes 21 and 22 whose axes are perpendicular to axis of coil and are mutually parallel; each pair of electrodes is made for free flow of atmospheric gas along its axis and is connected with additional plasma source 26 feeding plasma to inter-electrode electrode clearance of coaxial electrodes and with radiation source 23 used for ionization of atmospheric gas along axis of coaxial electrodes. EFFECT: enhanced reliability. 12 cl, 6 dwg