Design and operation of MW-class MPD thrusters at the NASA Glenn research center

A diverse range of in-space propulsion requirements has rekindled interest in the development and deployment of high power electromagnetic thrusters. Magnetoplasma Dynamic (MPD) thrusters can effectively process megawatts of electrical power, providing several newtons of thrust over a broad range of specific impulse values. As the lead NASA center for electric propulsion, the Glenn Research Center has established a MW-class pulsed thruster test facility to improve the performance of high power MPD thrusters. Thruster simulations using the state-of-the-art MACH2 code provide a well-balanced program of numerical analysis and experimental validation that is expected to lead to improved high power thruster performance. This paper provides an overview of the pulsed power facility at NASA GRC, describes the MACH2 code and recent numerical results, and outlines current GRC plans for high power MPD thruster testing and simulation.