The Development of CAM200 - Low Power Hall Thruster

Abstract

The present work describes key activities in the development campaign of the CAM200 low power Hall thruster from initial prototype testing to concurrent full performance mapping. The development program presented included proof-of-concept tests, experimental and numerical validation of physical mechanisms, wall material selection, performance testing, thruster engineering model structural, thermal and magnetic simulations followed by an engineering model production as well as full performance mapping. During the development campaign CAM200 demonstrated exceptional performance with anode specific impulse and anode efficiencies above 1500 sec and 43%, respectively, at a power level of 250 W. Future activities include thruster-cathode coupling test, full thruster unit lifetime qualification and full electric propulsion system coupling test, all part of the MEPS project, a joint European-Israeli endeavor.