The Aerospace Corporation's EP3 Chamber Commissioning and Characterization

The Aerospace Corporation’s state-of-the-art “EP3” electric propulsion (EP) research facility has been recently commissioned with a measured base pressure of ~5e-9 Torr and a pumping speed of 1.2 ML/s on xenon. Ground testing of electric thrusters is imperative for development, characterization, and life estimation of devices before they are operated in space. Maintaining a “Test Like You Fly” (TLYF) approach to these tests is crucial, as facility effects, primarily background pressure, have been shown to affect thruster performance and diagnostic accuracy. The EP3 facility was constructed with the goal of achieving high pumping speed on xenon, enabling TLYF compliance for the next generation of EP thrusters.

The new facility provides higher pumping speeds than existing chambers and includes a larger, more capable Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) facility for characterizing radiated and conducted emissions. EP3’s EMC facility includes a new fiberglass chamber which provides higher conductance in the test cell along with higher temperature capabilities, an improved line-of-sight to the chamber to reduce RF reflections and improve measurement quality, and an improved anechoic room with upgraded RF absorbing materials. These facilities’ augmented capabilities and diagnostics promise invaluable insight into future electric propulsion technologies and mission needs. This talk will present an overview of the facility and recent performance characterizations.