ELECTROSTATIC PLASMA ENGINE OF A SPACE VEHICLE DRIVEN BY CHARGED PARTICLES FOR OPERATION IN SPACE Russian patent published in 2021 - IPC F03H1/00 

EFFECT: space technology.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of rocket and space equipment and can be used in space for interorbital tugs and long-term space interplanetary flights. The engine comprises a body, an evaporation chamber with a working substance, located in the body, a high-temperature source for decomposition of the working substance to the atomic level and formation of solid nano- and microparticles, a charging chamber, and an accelerating apparatus abutting thereon from the end, located wherein is an electrode system wherein the first electrode has a negative electric potential and is placed at the input of the accelerating apparatus, and the second electrode with a positive potential is placed at the output thereof, wherein the electrodes are placed at a distance from each other excluding an electric breakdown between the electrodes. The electrodes of the accelerating apparatus are connected to an external high-voltage current source in order to create a difference in the electrical potentials between the electrodes, providing a flow of charged nano- and microparticles flowing into the environment and thereby creating reactive thrust of the engine. Small-sized basalt soils taken from the surface of cosmic bodies, e.g., asteroids, sufficient in space, are used in the engine as a working material. The charging chamber is made in the form of a cavity placed between the inner wall of the engine housing and the outer wall of the evaporation chamber, wherein electric heaters providing heat emission of electrons for charging solid nano- and microparticles are placed inside the charging chamber.

EFFECT: proposed structure of an engine and application of new working materials as fuel will allow for practical implementation of long-term flights in space.

8 cl, 1 dwg