Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory (PEPL) is a
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
laboratory facility for
electric propulsion and
plasma application research. The primary goals of PEPL is to increase efficiency of electric propulsion systems, understand integration issues of plasma thrusters with
spacecraft
A spacecraft is a vehicle or machine designed to spaceflight, fly in outer space. A type of artificial satellite, spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including Telecommunications, communications, Earth observation satellite, Earth ...
, and to identify non-propulsion applications of electric propulsion technology. The current director and founder is Professor
Alec D. Gallimore.
PEPL currently houses the Large Vacuum Test Facility (LVTF). The chamber was constructed in the 1960s by
Bendix Corporation for testing of the
Lunar rover and was later donated to the University of Michigan in 1982. The cylindrical 9 m long by 6 m diameter long stainless-steel clad tank is utilized for
Hall effect thruster,
electrostatic ion thruster,
magnetoplasmadynamic thruster
A magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster (MPDT) is a form of electrically powered spacecraft propulsion which uses the Lorentz force (the force on a charged particle by an electromagnetic field) to generate thrust. It is sometimes referred to as L ...
, and
arcjet testing as well as
space tether and
plasma diagnostics research.
See also
*
Nonequilibrium Gas and Plasma Dynamics Group
External links
Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory Official Website
University of Michigan
Plasma physics facilities
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