NExET
National Plasma Propulsion Test Facility
Contact : Stéphane MAZOUFFRE
Principales features
Stainless steel vacuum chamber: cylindrical L 1.8m x D 0.8m
Dry primary pump : 400 m3/h Cold panel : 0.5 m² |
Model
The chamber is equipped with different observation windows, diagnostic ports as well as electrical, optical and gas feed-throughs. The interior of the test bench is easy to access using a large front door.
Thrusters can be mounted onto linear translation stages to allow displacement in the axial, radial and vertical directions. Ion beam properties investigation can be realized with a set of electrostatic probes: Langmuir probe, Faraday cup, energy analyzer, E×B probe. Probes are installed on a rotation stage to cover a 180° circular arc. In addition, thrust measurements can be performed using a dedicated pendulum thrust stand with an accuracy of 50 µN.

Applications and research areas
Propulsion électrique des engins spatiaux.
