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Quaoar

Member

Registered: 2013-12-13

Posts: 665

Iodine Ion Thruster

Iodine has a lower ionization potential than xenon (1008.4 kJ/mol v. 1170.4 kJ/mol), is far more abundant and cheap, and has a melting point of 386.85 °K, so in can be stored solid to be turn to liquid just before use.
Russian Energia is developing a ion thruster running on pure iodine, that is ten time cheaper than xenon ion thrusters.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/22748/ … y_4LFUzaig

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Iodine Ion Thruster

http://erps.spacegrant.org/uploads/imag … 1i0x3l.pdf

http://busek.com/index_htm_files/70010819D.pdf

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/file … tagged.pdf

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi … 006296.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_thruster

kbd512

Administrator

Registered: 2015-01-02

Posts: 7,856

Re: Iodine Ion Thruster

This would make the propellant tank for the ITV suitably tiny and non-pressurized.  Thanks for the info, Quaoar and SpaceNut.  Iodine is a common test propellant for high power MPD thrusters, too, as a function of the cost of Xenon.

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Iodine Ion Thruster

Full in-orbit operation of a satellite powered by iodine gas has now been carried out by space tech company ThrustMe, and the technology promises to lead to satellite propulsion systems that are more efficient and affordable than ever before.

The team used iodine to fuel a 20 kg (44 pound) CubeSat satellite with an engine named the NPT30-I2, which was launched on 6 November 2020. Maneuvers were carried out successfully, and iodine was shown to achieve higher ionization efficiency than xenon too.

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: Iodine Ion Thruster

Ion Drives have been discussed in a number of threads

Space dot com also covered this recent story
https://www.space.com/spacecraft-propul … sted-orbit

I will quote Calibans post from another thread

This link examines the benefits and disbenefits of different ion propulsion propellants.
https://beyondnerva.com/electric-propul … opellants/

Argon appears to be particularly promising for Earth-Mars interplanetary transit, due to its relative abundance in the Martian atmosphere.  Iodine should be available as a chemically bound salt in the Martian regolith.

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Iodine Ion Thruster

Cost usually goes with rarity and with that handling as well as design of how to use it since that goes with corrosiveness of the new fuel type. Next up is the energy to propel it at velocity to provide the thrust from its exit. The heavier the material the more the push and the smaller amount you need of it over time.