• propulsione elettrica
• sistemi spaziali
• direct drive
• dimostrazione sperimentale
• benefici di massa

This thesis involves the theoretical and experimental study of the Hall thruster Direct Drive configuration: a innovative way to deliver power to the electric thrusters and candidate for future propulsion system of spacecraft. The direct connection between the solar array and the thruster anode, made possible by the current development of technology, allows a drastic simplification of the power processing unit of the propulsion system. This has an immediate impact on the propulsion system and its thermal control system which can be consequently lightened. Then, additional mass benefits can be exploited in other parts of the spacecraft such as the electric power system.

The work is mainly divided in two parts. The first one assesses in terms of mass reduction the impact that the Direct Drive configuration entails in the spacecraft systems. Different kind of space missions with different level of Hall thruster power are considered.

The second part of thesis concerns an experimental demonstration of a Direct Drive system supplying the HT-100, the low power electric thruster developed at Alta. The test required the procurement of the solar panel and the design of an electrical filter. By means of simulations with Pspice, a LC filter was developed and then arranged between the solar modules and thruster in order to dampen the current oscillations. This test successfully proved the correct ignition and operations of the thruster, representing in this way the first attempt in Europe of a Direct Drive demonstration.