EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS FOR HALL-EFFECT THRUSTER RESEARCH: GLOBAL PRACTICES AND UKRAINE’S PATH FORWARD

Viktoriia Chorna; Olena Karpovych

doi:10.15421/452547

Viktoriia Chorna Oles Honchar Dnipro National University https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6754-0378
Olena Karpovych Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Dnipro, UA, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0677-5822

Keywords: Hall-effect thruster (HET), electric propulsion, vacuum test facility, thrust measurement, boron nitride, heaterless cathode, Ukraine, SETS

Abstract

The Hall-effect thrusters (HET) operate within the 100–1000 W power range to function as primary propulsion systems for small satellite constellations and all-electric GEO station-keeping operations and future deep-space exploration missions. The paper conducts an in-depth 2025 assessment of worldwide facilities and diagnostic tools and construction materials which enable HET development and qualification testing. The review examines Ukrainian HET development activities through Space Electric Thruster Systems (SETS) as a private company and academic research institutions. The research demonstrates Ukraine operates a modern vacuum-diagnostic facility (SETS facility with 2–3 m³ volume and cryogenic panels and thrust-stand precision of 0.005 mN) which confirmed the ST-25 flight model and ST-40 near-flight version [4]. The research shows that Hall thruster testing requires vacuum chambers exceeding 10 m³ to support 1–5 kW thruster and cluster configurations and extended open experiments beyond 15,000 hours. The review combines data from Goebel & Katz (2008/2024) monographs with technical reports and scientific articles published between 2015 and 2025 to determine the fundamental innovation areas which consist of additive manufacturing for ceramic components and multi-layer dielectric coating development and optical diagnostic systems and artificial intelligence for operational performance enhancement. The research data enables the choice of equipment and materials needed to construct a modern Ukrainian HET research facility which focuses on small-spacecraft propulsion and deep-space exploration.

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Author Biographies

Viktoriia Chorna, Oles Honchar Dnipro National University

Phd student

Olena Karpovych, Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Dnipro, UA,

Cand. Sc., Assoc. Prof.

References

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