ELECTROSTATIC TRACTIVE SYSTEM (VERSIONS), SPACECRAFT (VERSIONS) AND METHOD OF APPLICATION OF SELECTED TRACTIVE EFFORTS (VERSIONS) Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: tractive systems of spacecraft, mainly, electrostatic tractive systems. SUBSTANCE: electrostatic tractive system 220 includes many electrostatic low-thrust ion engines 136, 137, 1761, 177; each engine is fed with heating and other energies from power supply system 226. Ionized gas is fed to these engines through piping system 146 to create tractive efforts of one selected engine by control signals furnished to gas valves 150-151 and 180-181. According to another version, heating energy is fed to selected engine only in order to reduce power requirement. EFFECT: simplification of system; increased service life of system (service life of engine cathodes); system may be advantageously used for spacecraft working with one low-thrust engine. 10 cl, 8 dwg