Thomas Haag
Papers
1
Total Citations
48
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Thomas Haag is a leading figure in electric propulsion research, with a career dedicated to advancing high-power Hall thruster technology for NASA’s deep-space missions. His work centers on characterizing thruster performance under realistic space conditions, most notably through his seminal 2016 study on the "Facility Effect Characterization Test of NASA’s HERMeS Hall Thruster." This highly cited work (48 citations) was critical in validating the 12.5-kW Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding (HERMeS), the baseline propulsion system for NASA’s Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Demonstration Mission. By systematically analyzing how varying background pressure alters thruster behavior, Haag provided essential data that bridged ground-test anomalies with in-space performance predictions. His contributions have directly shaped the development of next-generation electric thrusters, ensuring their reliability for ambitious missions like asteroid redirect and Mars cargo transport. Beyond this flagship study, Haag’s broader portfolio includes pioneering diagnostics for thruster erosion and plume dynamics, making him a trusted authority in the field. His work not only advances fundamental plasma physics but also accelerates the practical deployment of high-efficiency propulsion systems for humanity’s future in space.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Facility Effect Characterization Test of NASA’s HERMeS Hall Thruster48 citations · 2016