Patent ID: 6195980
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: F03H

Abstract:
An electrostatic propulsion engine comprising:a propellant gas ionizer with an ion outlet;a propellant gas ion accelerator that is arranged adjacent to said ion outlet of said ionizer and that is adapted to output an accelerated ion jet; andan electron source that is arranged adjacent to said accelerator and that comprises an anode, a hollow cathode with a hollow space therein adapted to have an electron source gas flow therethrough, an auxiliary electrode arranged in said hollow space of said hollow cathode, and an electron outlet arranged and adapted to output electrons into said accelerated ion jet so as to at least partially neutralize said accelerated ion jet, wherein said auxiliary electrode and said hollow cathode are adapted to initiate a pulse discharge therebetween so as to ignite a gas discharge between said anode and said hollow cathode.