Sep 11, 2024 · An arc jet is a device in which gases are heated and expanded to very high temperatures and supersonic/hypersonic speeds by a continuous electrical arc between two sets of electrodes.

An arcjet rocket or arcjet thruster is a form of electrically powered spacecraft propulsion, in which an electrical discharge (arc) is created in a flow of propellant [1][2] (typically hydrazine or ammonia).

The Ames Research Center (ARC), also known as NASA Ames, is a major NASA research center at Moffett Federal Airfield in California's Silicon Valley. It was founded in 1939 [1] as the second National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) laboratory.

Apr 8, 2025 · Please scroll down to download latest (April 8, 2025) schedule. For scheduling questions, please contact Enrique Carballo ([email protected]) at +1 650 604 0970. NASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.

Currently the arc-jet complex at Ames has four operating arc jets operating between 10 MW and 60 MW input power, used to test samples of heat shield materials in high-enthalpy free jet flow fields. One of them is the Aerodynamic Heating Facility (AHF).

Aug 28, 2023 · From the dawn the space race, through the development of the Orion spacecraft, the Arc Jet facility allowed researchers the opportunity to test and refine spacecraft material and structural designs to determine what could withstand the extreme temperature, physical and chemical changes required to penetrate the atmosphere and return safely to ...

May 4, 2010 · Evaluation of Arc Jet Facilities Report 4 . Within five years, NASA must be building a single arc jet testing complex with a robust infrastructure and capability to support thermal protection system certification for large-mass Mars entry and safe return to Earth.

Aug 7, 2023 · The Aerodynamic Heating Facility is part of NASA’s Arc Jet Complex, providing data on thermal protection systems (TPS) for space probes and human-carrying spacecraft to enable safe planetary-atmospheres entry.

The arc heaters are key features of the arc jet complex; they contain three fundamental elements: a cylindrical volume for containment of the arc discharge (or arc), a pair of electrodes (anode and cathode), and a nozzle [72].

Arc Jet Complex. The NASA-Ames Arc Jet Complex is the Nation’s highest powered arc-heated hyper-thermal test facility. Its uni que capabilities enable the development and testing of thermal protection system (TPS) concepts and materials, from the initial stages of design to the sustaining engineering of operational vehicles. Each test