ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10338
Open Date: 08/06/2020
Closing Date: 27/07/2020 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 20.123.01
Prog. Ref.: Technology Developme
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+HU
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Propulsion / Electric Propulsion ¿ BB / Thruster module (Plasma/Ion Thrusters), Xenon Flow Control Unit, ¿ *For Thruster Pointing See Mechanisms
Technology Domains: Propulsion / Electric Propulsion Technologies / Electrostatic Systems
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Mechanical Department
Division: Propulsion & Aerothermodynamics Division
Contract Officer: Almeida, Rudolfo
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 08/06/2020
Update Reason: Tender issue

Design and test a 20-25 kW Hall-effect thruster prototype with two coaxial discharge channels to minimise thruster footprint and mass.The activity shall design a Hall-effect thruster with two coaxial discharge channels (an internal and an external one) that canbe operated and modulated independently.The activity shall define the thruster performance specifications after system investigation of Exploration missions beyond the current ones, including Lunar-Mars transfers.Since the external magnetic circuit of the internal channel is closely surrounded by the internal magnetic circuit of the external channel, the contractor shall design with great care the magnetic circuit of each channel within a minimum volume and magnetically insulated between each other. This is essential asto avoid magnetic interferences between the channels and not to penalise individual channel performance.The performance of each channel shall be a much as possible independent of whether the channels are operated alone or simultaneously.After a design review, the Contractor shall build and assemble a prototype with coaxial channels with independent propellant feeding and power supply to thedischarge and the magnetic coils.The Contractor shall perform an investigation and optimisation test campaign in order to characterise the full operating range and optimise the performance with respect to the magnetic control.Full characterisation of the level of channel independence during operation shall be performed.A further test at the best operating point at maximum power shall be performed for a minimum of 300 hours in order to have preliminary data on the channels erosion and on the long-term behaviour of the central cathode that supplies the discharge current to both channels during simultaneous operation.