Current Status of the Nuclear-Powered Arc Jet Rocket Engine

The present paper is in the nature of a status report on the performance and possible application to space missions of the thermal arc jet rocket engine. The following areas are discussed: 1. Arc Jet Operation and Performance 2. Preliminary Arc Jet System Considerations 3. Orbit Transfer of a 24-Hour Communications Satellite The paper includes discussions of electrode configuration, liquid versus radiation-cooled engines, and arc engine starting, and contains speculations on a battery-powered flight test, cryogenic versus noncryogenic propellants, and alternating versus direct-current arc jet operation.