The Electric Thruster Environmental Effects Verification (ETEEV) experiment aims to test low-power Pulsed Plasma and Hall thrusters in space as part of the NASA Hitchhiker program. The ETEEV payload includes a suite of plasma instruments mounted on a pallet in the shuttle bay, as well as a mechanical diagnostics boom (MDB) that will take plume measurements. This project considers the design of the MDB based on the ETEEV science requirements and safety requirements as set forth by NASA in their CARS document for HItchhiker payloads. Potential designs are discussed, including a rorating boom, a swinging boom, and a hybrid swinging/rotating design. Based on the relative advantages of each design, the rotating/swinging boom design is recommended. Loading and vibrational analyses of this design follow, and a required materials list is drafted. Having passed these stages, realization of the design can take place, allowing an engineering model to be built for further testing and refinement.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Byers, Scott R.
• Crowley, John Emmett

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 01E008M

Advisor

• Gatsonis, Nikolaos A.

Year

• 2001

Sponsor

• NASA Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium

Date created

• 2001-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright