RESULTS FROM SERT I ION ROCKET FLIGHT TEST

Abstract

The SERT I (Space Electric Rocket Test) spacecraft was launched at 0553:15 EDT on July 20, 1964, from Wallops Island, Virginia. Two ion thrustors were programed to operate sequentially during the flight. One of these, a contact ion thrustor, could not be started because of a high-voltage electrical short circuit. The other thrustor, which was of the electron-bombardment type, operated as expected for a total of 31 minutes and 16 seconds during the flight. The primary flight objective of confirming neutraliza-tion of a high-perveance ion beam was attained. Ion beam thrust was measured with three independent thrust measuring systems. All voltages, currents, and other oper-ating characteristics of the electron-bombardment thrustor were close to the nominal values obtained in previous vacuum tank tests. Telemetry data indicated no noticeable radio-frequency interference generated by the ion beam. Furthermore, all commands between the ground transmitter and space-craft were transmitted and executed without interference.