|
RITA Ion Thruster
Ion Propulsion
How it Works
Advantages
Applications
Heritage
Thruster RIT-10
Thruster RIT-XT
Thruster RIT-22
Xenon Regulator
Eureca
Artemis
|
 |
 |
|
Heritage of Astrium Radio Frequency Ion Propulsion
Heritage and achievements from 1965 to 2004.
RITA in Space
The RITA propulsion system was first used in space in 1992 as a technology
demonstrator aboard ESA's European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA).
More recently, in 2002, RITA was used to recover ESA's Artemis
(Advanced Relay Technology Mission) satellite from a total loss to full
recovery.
Ion Propulsion for the Future
After the commencement of German research into ion propulsion in the mid
1960's, Astrium decided that ion propulsion would be a next realistic step
toward spacecraft propulsion of the future. That decision, made almost
35 years ago, has surpassed all expectations in demonstrated terms of
performance, durability, life, cost and availability.
| Heritage
and Achievements of Astrium Radio Frequency Ion Propulsion |
|
1965
|
Start Radio frequency ion thruster development
|
|
1970 - 1982
|
RITA-10 Development:
Mercury and Xenon. |
|
1982 - 1990
|
RITA-10
Development for Eureca. Xenon. Thrust: 5 mN - 10 mN. |
|
1985 - 1998
|
RITA-35
ESA-XX: Thrust: 200 mN. |
|
1988 - 1998
|
RITA-10
Development for Artemis. Thrust: 15 mN. |
|
1992
|
Flight European
Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) |
| 1997
- 1998 |
RITA-10 Evolution:
Improved grids. Thrust: 1 mN - 35 mN. |
|
2001
|
RITA ran for
3,200 hours setting a world record |
|
2002
|
RITA ran for
20,000 hours during a durability trial conducted in a test chamber at the
European ESTEC facility - setting a further world record. |
| 2002 |
Flight Advanced Relay Technology Mission (ARTEMIS)
- successfully used for the major part of ARTEMIS orbit raising.
- more than 7500 hours of operation demonstrated in space.
|
| 1998
- 2003 |
RITA-XT: Thrust:
50 - 250 mN. Isp: 5000 s |
| 2003
- |
RITA-22: Thrust:
80 to 250 mN. Isp: 4000 - 6200 s. |
| |
|
Contact for Further Information
|
|
If
you require more detailed information on any of our products or services,
then please contact
us, indicating your particular areas of interest or intended application.
Your enquiry will receive our best attention.
|
|
