AE 435: Electric Space Propulsion

Course Description

Elements of electric propulsion as applied to near-earth and deep-space missions; impact on spacecraft design; physics of ionized gases; plasmadynamics; electrothermal, electromagnetic, and electrostatic acceleration of gases to high velocity; high-impulse thruster design and performance; the resistojet, arcjet, ion engine, Hall thruster, MPD arc thruster, and plasma gun. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: AE 312 or ME 410, PHYS 212, and ECE 205.