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News

Lambros Named ASME Fellow

Professor John Lambros makes the third AE faculty member this year to have achieved the status of Fellow within the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Sixty Years and Going Strong

Emeritus Prof. Harry H. Hilton reached a remarkable milestone in September 2009 — his 60th continuous year at the University of Illinois.

College Honors Archambault

The university, college, and Department of Aerospace Engineering welcomed Colonel Lee J. Archambault, BS 82, MS 84 AE, a distinguished United States Air Force pilot and NASA astronaut, back to campus during the Foundation weekend Oct. 2-4.

AE undergrad wins National Student Role Model Award

AE undergraduate Joseph Gonzalez has been selected as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers’ National Student Role Model of the Year

Events

 
Research Labs

Electric Propulsion Lab

Faculty Researchers: Location: Phone: Website:
Professor R. L. Burton Room 6 Talbot Laboratory 217-244-7242  

Description of Research:

Directed by Professor R. L. Burton. Physics of several types of electric thrusters, which use less propellant than chemical thrusters, are being studied experimentally for space applications. Both DC and Pulsed Arcjet Electrothermal Thrusters are investigated at power levels of 50 to 1000 watts and thrust to levels of 0.01 to 0.10 newtons. Pulsed plasma thrusters, with specific impulses of 800 to 1500 seconds on Teflon propellant, are being studied at power levels of 10 - 100 watts. The basic physics of electrode erosion is being studied. High power pulsed electromagnetic thrusters using metallic gallium propellant are also being investigated.