Ionenquelle

Details

Veröffentlichungs-Nr.

EP4741656

Anmeldetag

12. November 2024

Veröffentlichung

13. Mai 2026

Rechtsraum

EP

IPC

(HITACHI LTD et al.)(VASILJEVICH IVANHOE et al.)(GIERAK JACQUES et al.)

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ion source (1), in particular an ion thruster for propelling a spacecraft, comprising a reservoir (2) for a propellant (3), a heater (4) for heating the propellant (3), an emitter (6) having one or more projections (7) for emitting ions (3') of the propellant (3), wherein the one or more projections (7) are in fluid communication with the reservoir (2), an extractor (8) facing the emitter (6) for extracting ions (3') of the propellant (3) from the emitter (6) and for accelerating the extracted ions (3') in a direction of emission (R), wherein the heater (4) comprises a projection heating unit (5) and is configured to liquefy solid propellant (3) at the one or more projections (7) by the projection heating unit (5) before the solid propellant (3) in the reservoir (2) is liquefied.

Anmelder

Firma

ENPULSION GmbH

Land

🇦🇹 Österreich