MEMS Technology Demonstration on Traveler-1

Abstract

Public reporting burden (or this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) AbstractTrave!er-I is a flight test platform for advanced micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) devices that is being built at the University of Southern California (USC) and is to be flown aboard the next Scorpius® sub-orbital launch vehicle. Microcosm, Inc. and Scorpius Space Launch Company have initiated a program that currently provides sub-orbital launch opportunities, with the possibility of orbital flights in the future. Flight opportunities such as these allow for short duration missions where new technologies can be rapidly developed and tested in a launch and space environment. Traveler-I allows for low cost flight demonstration and testing of new and innovative MEMS devices such as a Free-Molecule Micro-Resistojet (FMMR) and a Knudsen Compressor. The FMMR is a MEMSbased propulsion system for low impulse bit delivery, which is designed to perform attitude control and primary maneuvers for nanosatellites. The Knudsen Compressor is a MEMS-based vacuum pump that employs the physical principle of thermal transpiration to drive a flow across an aerogel substance. Advances in MEMS capabilities have allowed the construction of micro-scale versions of space sensors such as mass spectrometers, optical spectrometers, and gas chromatographs. These devices require vacuum pumps to provide the necessary environment for their operation. Inexpensive and rapid access to space may eventually lead to low-cost testing, which supports rapid development and redesign so that more mature and reliable technologies can be used in future satellite systems, without the expense of designing, building and operating an entire satellite. In addition, the size of MEMS devices allows for the testing of multiple systems simultaneously. Traveler-I is a good example of how advanced technologies may be tested for low cost while reducing risk and development time for future programs.

Fabrication and evaluation of a free molecule micro-resistojet with thick silicon dioxide insulation and suspension

“…One type of MEMS thruster is the free molecule microresistojet (FMMR) [9][10][11] which operates at low pressures and high Knudsen numbers by transferring energy to propellant molecules by heating the outlet walls. It has been developed for operations of nanospacecraft where it is well suited due to the possibility of designing compact systems with liquid or solid propellant storage.…”