METHOD OF CREATION OF REACTIVE THRUST IN SPACE Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: creation of reactive thrust in space by means of electron closed drift accelerator. SUBSTANCE: proposed method is realized through supply of working gas to circular accelerating channel formed by outer and inner walls of discharge chamber of electron closed drift accelerator, creating the magnetic flux in working zone of accelerating channel at its output at preferred direction of induction from one wall of discharge chamber to other wall, initiating and maintaining electric discharge in working gas flow in accelerating channel between circular anode located inside accelerating channel and cathode located outside accelerating channel; they are arranged in such way that said working zone of accelerating channel is located between anode and cathode. Magnetic flux is formed by means of magnetic system as a rule including poles, magnetizing coils and magnetic circuit. Proposed method is based on use of industrial krypton-xenon mixture as working gas at volumetric content of oxygen and nitrogen not exceeding in sum 10% of volume of mixture. Use of such mixture makes it possible to obtain similar thrust as during operation on pure krypton and at some modes close to thrust efficiency of engine working on xenon, thus making it possible to use this mixture instead of xenon. Since said mixture is cheaper than pure xenon by approximately 15 times and is cheaper than krypton by 2 to 3 times, cost of working gas charged in engine plant and cost of working gas consumed for surface tests and protracted service life tests of engine is considerably reduced. EFFECT: considerable reduction of cost of charged engine plants delivered to spacecraft. 4 dwg