Electric Propulsion Testing at the DLR Göttingen: Facility and Diagnostics

Kurzfassung

DLR operates an electric propulsion test facility at its Goettingen site. The facility has several special features tailored to electric propulsion, like low vibration chamber foundation and performant cryopumps. Concerning tests, the design focus was on plume interaction with spacecraft components and on long-term tests. The facility is to be equipped with advanced measurement methods for plasma analysis and thrust and thrust vector measurement. Inauguration of the facility took place in October 2011. The paper describes the facility, special design features and measurement equipment.