The USAF Electric Propulsion Program

Abstract : An overview of the current electric propulsion technology development efforts within the United States Air Force is presented. The principal electric propulsion activity for 1999 is the successful flight of the Electric Space Experiment (ESEX), a 30 kilowatt ammonia arcjet system. This program was the culmination of a 10 year development effort to validate high power electric propulsion on-orbit and verify its compatibility with Air Force satellites. Two groups within the Air Force Research Laboratory contribute to the electric propulsion program: Propulsion Directorate and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). The Propulsion Directorate conducts electric propulsion efforts in basic research, engineering development, and space experiments. AFOSR funds basic research in electric propulsion throughout the country in both academia and industry.