Want... Scientists in China have produced a Hall effect thruster and a hollow-cathodes lamp (HCL) that may have the world's longest life, reports Duowei News, a US-based Chinese-language news outlet.
The 801st Research Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)'s Sixth Academy (the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology) said it has produced a thruster which may last for 18,000 hours and a lamp which can last 75,000 hours. Currently a thruster's life is determined by how long it is used, while there is no internationally recognized measurement for a lamp's life.
The institute has carried out the research on the two items for over three years. Its researchers made the breakthrough on the Chinese New Year's Eve this year, which fell on Feb. 18.
The power of the Hall effect thrusters developed by the institute ranged from 0.1KW to 5KW. They will be used on geosynchronous satellites, low-Earth-orbit satellites, space probes and large manned spacecraft since the thrusters could greatly improves their lifespan and overall performances.
Satellites and space probes powered by the thruster will require less fuel then their counterparts powered by chemical fuels. That could increase their payloads since they could make better use of the extra room formerly occupied by fuel. If the Chinese satellite Dong Fang Hong 4 replaces its two large chemical-fuel tanks with the Hall thruster, it can reduce the amount of fuel it carries by 80% and its weight from 4.8 tons to 1.9 tons.
The thruster is perfect for exploring Mars, asteroids and the edge of the universe since the spacecraft used to carry out such missions cannot solely rely on chemical propulsion.
Poster Comment:
the edge of the universe Hmmm