Abstract: A thruster assembly is disclosed which includes a removable filament mounted in a heat exchange cavity which isolates propellant from the filament and transfers energy from the filament to the propellant. The filament may comprise a single winding of wire or may, if desired, comprise a bifilar wound helix. Also disclosed are a number of ways of powering the filament including a plurality of power supplies provided for redundancy as well as variability of operation. The thruster assembly housing includes sophisticated heat conduction structure including a tortuous internal heat conduction path which minimizes heat loss from the thruster for a variety of disclosed purposes. Also disclosed is structure for providing energy transfer to propellant both through radiation and emission. Several techniques for improving the performance of the thruster assembly and particularly related to the nozzle structure as well as to the fuel supply structure and heat exchange structure form the main basis for this disclosure.

Abstract: A thruster assembly is disclosed which includes a removable filament mounted in a heat exhange cavity which isolates propellent from the filament and transfers energy from the filament to the propellant. The filament may comprise a single winding of wire or may if desired comprise a bifilar wound helix. Also disclosed are a number of ways of powering the filament including a plurality of power supplies provided for redundancy as well as variability of operation. The thruster assembly housing includes sophisticated heat conduction structure including a tortuous internal heat conduction path which minimizes heat loss from the thruster for a variety of disclosed purposes. Also disclosed is structure for providing energy transfer to propellant both through radiation and emission. Further, a test bed facility for testing the inventive thruster assembly is set forth.

Abstract: A heater/emitter for a rocket engine assembly utilizes a resistance heated wire coil or coils which may also function as a cathode emitter or as a thermal driver for an auxiliary emitter. This heater/emitter may if desired be formed into a bifilar and may be supported by the wire lead itself or by isolated supports. The power leads are located in a lead channel and feature an overwrapping of similar wire material which reduces the internal resistance heating of the lead to increase the electrical conductivity of the supporting lead and increase the thermal conduction thereof to establish a cooler and structurally-stronger lead. A plurality of radiation discs or shields are spaced along the leads to further minimize energy losses from the heater out of the lead channel. The heater/emitter itself is enclosed, except for the lead channel, by a heat exchanger housing.