A Detailed Global Model for Characterization of CO2 Fed Electric Thrusters

Detailed properties of O and of O + species have been included in our CO 2 Global Model in order to better characterize CO 2 fed electric thrusters. This addition allows also for optical emission spectroscopy diagnostics pertaining to CO 2 propellant. The obtained model, CO2GM, is applied to electric thrusters functioning at low pressure values, typically from 1 mTorr to 5 mTorr. The thruster characterization and diagnostics are addressed. CO 2 + is found to be the most abundant ionic species, followed by CO + and O + . Dominant reaction is dissociation of CO 2 resulting to CO and O production, leading also to considerable ionization. Obtained theoretical spectra of O and O + are also presented.