Numerical simulation of the operation of a plasma gun in mission to Mars planet

Abstract

The authors present the results of the numerical simulations of the thermo mechanical processes taking place inside the coaxialplasmagun and at the interaction between high speed gas jet and the dust deposited on the surfaces of the space vehicles. The purpose of the study on the use of coaxialplasma gun to clean the dust from the surfaces space vehicles in spatial missions to Mars, was to elucidate some aspects of the system's energy efficiency, thermal and mechanical effects of high-speed jet upon intersecting bodies and efficiency of the dust cleaning operation on the surfaces of space vehicles under atmospheric conditions of Mars.