// PROPULSION SYSTEMS AND ENGINE TECHNOLOGY TERM
Arcjet
An arcjet is a type of electric rocket engine that uses an electric arc to heat a propellant gas to extremely high temperatures, which is then expelled through a nozzle to produce thrust. It operates by heating the gas rather than ionizing it, making it an electrothermal thruster.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
An arcjet thruster is an electrothermal electric propulsion system that generates thrust by ohmically heating a gaseous propellant, such as hydrazine or ammonia, to high temperatures via a high-current electric arc, subsequently expanding the hot plasma through a converging-diverging nozzle to achieve high exhaust velocities for spacecraft station-keeping and orbital maneuvering.
BACKGROUND
Spacecraft electric propulsion encompasses propulsion systems that use electric energy to accelerate and expel propellant, generating thrust through electric or magnetic fields. Their principal advantage over chemical rockets is much higher specific impulse, meaning greater propellant efficiency, but the limited electrical power available aboard spacecraft yields much lower thrust, making electric propulsion unsuitable for launch from Earth's surface and better suited to long-duration in-space maneuvers.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Arcjet thruster
- Thermal arcjet
- Electrothermal arcjet
USAGE NOTE
Arcjets are commonly used on satellites for station-keeping and orbital adjustments due to their higher fuel efficiency compared to traditional chemical rockets, albeit with lower thrust.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Arcjet.
A leader in aerospace propulsion, Aerojet Rocketdyne has a history of developing and producing arcjet thrusters for satellite station-keeping and other space applications.
Busek specializes in advanced electric propulsion systems, including the research, development, and manufacturing of arcjet thrusters for commercial and government spacecraft.
NASA's Glenn Research Center has a long and distinguished history of research and development in electric propulsion, including high-power arcjet thrusters for various space missions and advanced propulsion concepts.
The AFRL conducts extensive research into advanced space propulsion technologies, including arcjets, to support national security space missions and scientific endeavors.
As a major aerospace and defense technology company, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (formerly Orbital ATK) has developed and supplied arcjet propulsion systems for various satellite platforms.
A leading provider of space technology, Maxar Technologies (including its former Space Systems Loral division) has built satellites that utilize electric propulsion, including arcjets, for orbit raising and station-keeping.
The Plasma Propulsion Laboratory at Ohio State University conducts fundamental and applied research in electric propulsion, including advanced arcjet concepts and plasma physics relevant to their operation.