A 1 kW-class arcjet thruster was fired in a vacuum chamber at a pressure of 18 Pa. A gas mixture of H-2 : N-2 = 2.8 : 1.5 in volume at a total flow rate of 4.3 slm was used as the propellant with an input power fixed at 860 W. The time-dependent thrust, nozzle temperature and inlet pressure of the propellant were measured simultaneously. Results showed that with the increase in nozzle temperature the thrust decreased and various losses increased. The physical mechanisms involved in these effects are discussed.
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