Thrust Vector Control and Discharge Stabilization in a Hall Thruster by Azimuthal Division of Propellant Flow Rate

In order to achieve thrust vector control and discharge stabilization in Hall thrusters, the azimuthal nonuniformity of propellant flow rate in an acceleration channel was created. A plenum chamber was divided into two rooms by two walls and propellant flow rate supplied to each section was independently controlled. In a magnetic layer type Hall thruster, steering angle of up to ${\pm}2.3$ degree was achieved. In an anode layer type Hall thruster, discharge current oscillation amplitude was decreased with the normalized differential mass flow rate.