In the interests of the federal project "Sphere", the enterprises of the State Corporation "Roscosmos" — OKB "Torch" (part of the integrated structure of NPO Energomash) and the SSC "Center Keldysh" — for the first time tested a stationary plasma engine SPD-70M on krypton.
The engine was tested at the Fakel Design Bureau, showing its stable operation and reliable launch parameters. The engine fully meets the requirements for the spacecraft of the Sphere project.
The SPD-70M engine was created at the Fakel Design Bureau and has a power from 300 to 1200 watts. At the Keldysh Center, a cathode compensator with an emitter made of porous tungsten impregnated with barium compounds was developed for him.
Traditionally, xenon is used as a working fluid for plasma engines. But recently its market value has increased significantly, which has intensified scientific research on the use of more affordable working bodies. One of the possible options may be krypton, the cost of which, according to various estimates, is 5-10 times less than xenon. At the same time, it is possible to obtain acceptable parameters of plasma engines.
In December 2022, Roscosmos began research work, one of the tasks of which is to investigate the possibility of using alternative working bodies to xenon in electric rocket engines.
The federal project "Sphere" includes orbital communication groupings (with the Yamal, Express, Express-RV, Skif and Marathon spacecraft) and orbital groupings for remote sensing of the Earth (with the Berkut and Smotr optical-electronic and radar surveillance spacecraft).
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