RIT-22 Ion Engine Development - Endurance Test and Life Prediction

Electric Propulsion based on gridded ion thruster technology is the key for several upcoming missions. Namely the European Space Agency ESA's corner stone mission BepiColombo to the Sun's nearest planet mercury is a representative for these type of missions. Beside harsh thermal and radiation environment the required total impulse and engine lifetime is a challenge for the electric propulsion system. EAD Space Transportation GmbH proposes its new ion thruster RIT-22 based on cathodless radiofrequency technology for this mission. A 3,000h Endurance test demonstrates the engine is compliant with the mission requirements. This paper describes the ion engine, the test setup and the test facility. One section is devoted to the control software which bases on the flight proven architecture for ARTEMIS. Test results are given and the life time prediction is presented.