S2-1
Introduction
Symposium 2: Trends in Basic Research and Developmentof Advanced Plasma Thrusters
趣旨説明 はじめにシンポジウム2：先進的プラズマスラスタ実現へ向けての基礎開発研究の動向
Takao Tanikawa and Takanobu Muranaka1
谷川隆夫, 村中崇信1
Research Institute of Science and Technology, Tokai University
4-1-1 Kitakaname,Hiratuska, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan
東海大学 総合科学技術研究所 〒259-1292 神奈川県平塚市北金目4-1-1
1
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering, Chukyo University
101-2 Yagoto Honmachi, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8666, Japan1
中京大学工学部電気電子工学科 〒466-8666 愛知県名古屋市昭和区八事本町101-2
In this symposium, eight presentations on activities regarding research and development effort of advanced
plasma thrusters are given. It is hoped that the symposium leads to enhanced interactions between
researchers working on electric (or plasma) thrusters and those of various other plasma science andengineering fields.

1. BackgroundPlasma thrusters, which utilize ionized gas (orplasma) as a propellant, are expected to play amajor role in deep-space as well as orbital
missions because of their high efficiency,
inherently high exhaust velocities that lead to ahigh fuel efficiency, and precise thrust controlcapabilities. In fact, ion and Hall thrusters are
already in use in various space missions.
Especially, the ion thrusters (µ10) developed by
JAXA
have
dramaticallydemonstrated
remarkable capabilities of plasma thrusters in a
successful asteroid sample return mission by the"Hayabusa" spacecraft.
However, further advancement of plasma
thrusters in order to improve some of their criticalcharacteristics, such as lifetime and total
performance efficiency, is definitely needed so as
to further increase their versatility.
This symposium is organized in order tointroduce some of the basic research anddevelopment activities on advanced plasma
thrusters to plasma scientists and engineers ingeneral.
2. List of Presentations
The symposium consists of eight mainpresentations. The titles and presenters (inparentheses) are listed below.
1. Space Exploration Strategy with High Power
Plasma Propulsions (K. Kinefuchi)

2. Challenge to Erosion-less Hall Thrusters (K.
Komurasaki)
3. Radio Frequency Plasma Cathode forHigh-Power Ion and Hall Thrusters (H. Watanabe)
4.
DevelopmentofIon
Enginesfor"HAYABUSA2" Spacecraft (K. Nishiyama)
5. Small Current － High Voltage Steady-stateOperation of MPD Arcjet (D. Ichihara)
6. Physical Mechanism of a Plasma Thruster
Utilizing a Magnetic Nozzle (A. Ando)
7. Research on Completely Electrodeless ElectricThrusters Using High-Density Helicon Plasmas－
the HEAT Project and Related Topics (S.
Shinohara)
8. Modeling of Helicon Plasma Production andPlasma Acceleration (T. Hada)
Besides these lectures, an introductory talk at thebeginning of the symposium will be given by
Tanikawa, and a summary talk at the end of thesymposium will be given by Muranaka.
3. Concluding Remarks
It is hoped that the symposium leads to enhanced
interactions between researchers working onelectric (or plasma) thrusters and those of various
other plasma science and engineering fields.
Finally, we note that the subject areas covered inthis symposium are apparently not exhaustive.
Many other R & D activities of various advanced
plasma thruster concepts are left untouched.