Current Progress in the Development of an ECR Plasma Source for Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion System

This contribution presents the development process of an electron-cyclotron-resonance-based air-breathing electric propulsion concept and the recent breakthroughs regarding plasma ignition. The aim of the prototype is to generate sufficient thrust to compensate for the drag force expected at very low Earth orbit altitudes. The plasma ignition necessary for operation is achieved using a birdcage resonator whose design and performance is discussed within this report. The ability to ignite and sustain plasma at extremely low pressures, similar to the predicted in-orbit conditions, is demonstrated, along with an estimation of the thruster's current performance parameters. The scalability of the birdcage resonator with increasing forward power is explored, revealing the potential for future improvement regarding power scaling of the thruster. Based on the latest findings, the current prototype demonstrates promising feasibility, setting the stage for further development and optimization.