RT Journal Article ID 79686cf23acd2a05 A1 Vasil'ev, Igor Yu. T1 Estimation of the Efficiency of Optimal Control of an Electric Rocket Engine with Solar Power Supply JF Journal of Automation and Information Sciences JO JAI(S) YR 2008 FD 2009-01-29 VO 40 IS 11 SP 57 OP 64 AB Comparison is performed of the efficiency of two types of electric rocket engines, namely of those with constant and variable in magnitude thrust. The solar cells are on-board power source. The rocket thrust optimal control is investigated with the use of Pontryagin maximum principle. It is shown, that accounting for real peculiarities of the regulation characteristic of considered engine system allows one to draw a conclusion on insignificance of decrease in efficiency under replacement of the variable thrust engine by much more simple rocket engine with constant in magnitude thrust. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/2b6239406278e43e,61f61f514d60670f,79686cf23acd2a05.html