Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory
Encyclopedia
Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory (PEPL) is a University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
laboratory facility for electric propulsion
Electric propulsion
An electrically powered spacecraft propulsion system is any of a number of forms of electric motors which spacecraft can employ to gain mechanical energy in outer space...
and plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
application research. The primary goals of PEPL is to increase efficiency of electric propulsion systems, understand integration issues of plasma thrusters with spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
, and to identify non-propulsion applications of electric propulsion technology. The current director and founder is Professor Alec D. Gallimore.
PEPL currently houses the Large Vacuum Test Facility (LVTF). The chamber was constructed in the 1960s by Bendix Corporation
Bendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
for testing of the Lunar rover
Lunar rover
The Lunar Roving Vehicle or lunar rover was a battery-powered four-wheeled rover used on the Moon in the last three missions of the American Apollo program during 1971 and 1972...
and was later donated to the University of Michigan in 1982. The cylindrical 9 m long by 6 m diameter long stainless-steel clad tank is utilized for Hall effect thruster
Hall effect thruster
In spacecraft propulsion, a Hall thruster is a type of ion thruster in which the propellant is accelerated by an electric field. Hall thrusters trap electrons in a magnetic field and then use the electrons to ionize propellant, efficiently accelerate the ions to produce thrust, and neutralize the...
, electrostatic ion thruster
Electrostatic ion thruster
An electrostatic ion thruster is a design for ion thrusters . These designs use high voltage electrodes in order to accelerate ions with electrostatic forces.-History:...
, magnetoplasmadynamic thruster
Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster
The Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster is a form of electrically powered spacecraft propulsion which uses the Lorentz force to generate thrust...
, and arcjet
Arcjet rocket
Arcjets are a form of electric propulsion for spacecraft, whereby an electrical discharge is created in a flow of propellant . This imparts additional energy to the propellant, so that one can extract more work out of each kilogram of propellant, at theexpense of increased power consumption and ...
testing as well as space tether
Space tether
Space tethers are cables, usually long and very strong, which can be used for propulsion, stabilization, or maintaining the formation of space systems by determining the trajectory of spacecraft and payloads...
and plasma diagnostics
Plasma diagnostics
Plasma diagnostics are experimental techniques used to measure properties of a plasma such as temperature and density.-Langmuir probe:Measurements with electric probes, called Langmuir probes, are the oldest and most often used procedures for low-temperature plasmas...
research.