主带小行星采样返回任务中的离子电推进应用方案

由于离子电推进的高比冲特性,采用它执行小行星探测器巡航阶段轨道机动任务时,将使探测器在同样的有效载荷下的发射重量大大减轻。针对我国规划中的主带小行星采样返回任务,调研了国外离子电推进在深空探测任务中的应用情况,在借鉴国外成功经验和任务需求分析的基础上,设计了主带小行星探测器离子电推进系统方案和应用策略,计算了在目前离子推力器寿命水平下,既定探测任务对离子电推进推力、比冲、推进剂量以及功耗需求。研究表明,目前研制的离子推力器可以满足规划中的主带小行星探测任务需求。研究成果对探测器的方案设计有参考价值。

Application Scheme of Ion Electric Propulsion System for Main-Belt Asteroid Sample and Return Mission

Due to the ion electric propulsion high specific impulse feature, the launch weight of the spacecraft will be greatly reduced under the same payload to implement the orbit maneuver of an asteroid exploration. The application of ion electric propulsion in deep space exploration is investigated in this paper. On the basis of the successful experience of foreign countries and the analysis of the requirements of the task, the scheme and application strategy of the ion electric propulsion system are designed, and its thrust,specific impulse, propellant weight and power are calculated for the main-belt asteroid exploring spacecraft to meet the present life level of ion thruster. The research results show that the developing ion thruster can meet the requirements of the main-belt asteroid exploration mission and have reference value for the design of the spacecraft.