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Plasma Science | Applied Plasma Engineering

Home Plasma Engineering

Plasmas have been an area of significant study in science and engineering for quite a long time. Plasmas are all around us everyday in our technologies and our environment. With our current understanding of plasmas and the strong ongoing development of various plasma engineering technologies, we can put this dynamic state of matter to work for us as we begin our venture into space - it's mostly plasma out there anyway!

Applied plasma physics is a core competence within our organization and we are very interested in the properties of the nearby space plasma environment as well as the many ways in which plasmas can be used to our advantage in space. Plasmas are a significant factor in space-based operations and there is still much to learn in this regard. Of particular interest are applications of plasma engineering to modify gases and volatiles as well as their use in surface treatment/modification and for spacecraft propulsion systems.

Plasma Physics in Space Research & Exploration

Plasma science and engineering is very important to space development in a variety of ways including:

Fundamental Space Plasma Research

Plasmas play a very important role in the near-Earth environment and the behavior of this plasma environment is critical to understand. Solar storms can destroy satellites and spacecraft electronics systems and threaten humans in space. The modeling and monitoring of "space weather" has become a scientific hot topic as our orbital regions become heavily populated with satellite systems we rely on every day. Space development activities from Earth orbit to Mars will all take place inside the sphere of influence of the sun, the solar wind, and other plasma dominated regions of space.

Plasma Modification of Gases, Materials, and Surfaces.

Plasma engineering may permit the reprocessing and modification of many useful materials and volatiles in space and plasmas are already widely used in industry to set films and layers on surfaces to enhance or change their features. Plasma processes are being studied now for the production of Oxygen from the CO2 atmosphere on Mars. Similar processes are likely to be useful when applied to various volatiles found in Near-Earth Asteroids, the Moon, and other locations. Plasma engineering may find application in the production of breathable air, fuels, and volatile modification. Plasmas have already been proven to be highly efficient for the destruction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and contaminants.

Plasma Spacecraft Propulsion Systems.

Ion thrusters and other types of plasma space propulsion systems are already being used on existing spacecraft with great success. However, many advancements remain to be made including dealing with system degradation and erosion along with the longer-term need for the acquisition of fuels from space.

The Interaction of Space Plasmas with Spacecraft and Instruments.

The space plasma environment has a profound influence on operations by influencing instrument measurements, interfering with satellite operations and communications, inducing unwanted electromagnetic effects, and changing the properties of thermal-control and other surfaces exposed to space. Considerable effort will be required to deal with the influences of the space environment on spacecraft, instruments, and systems.