Pulsed plasma propulsion for a small satellite - Mission COMPASS P3OINT

Abstract

Pre-launch characterization and preparation of a Lincoln Experimental Satellite (LES 8/9) ablative pulsed plasma thruster (APPT) module for the COMPASS P 3 OINT Mission are described. COMPASS P 3 OINT is a joint project between the Electric Propulsion and Plasma Dynamics Lab (EPPDyL) of Princeton University and the Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation of the Russian Academy of Science (IZMIRAN) to carry inorbit investigations with an ablative pulsed plasma thruster onboard COMPASS, an IZMIRAN scientific microsatellite to be launched in October, 1996. The unmodified LES 8/9 APPT module produces impulse bits of 285 µN-s at an I sp of 836 s using 25 W of power on average. The APPT module will be used to conduct in-orbit investigations of pulsed plasma propulsion as well as to provide attitude control of the satellite and a source of plasma for active space experiments. Details of the power, command, and telemetry signals required to operate the device on the COMPASS satellite are presented. Thermal control and various operational modes are also outlined.

Airworthiness Evaluation of a Scaled Joined-Wing Aircraft

“…The simplified model assumes that in each orientation (roll, pitch and yaw), the CG of the aircraft lies directly in between each support filament (equidistant from each filament) and the vertical axis of the aircraft in that orientation is parallel to the wires. Finally, using small angle oscillations, the period of the rotational oscillations of the system about the vertical axis can then be used to compute the moment of inertia about that axis in terms of measurable quantities 7 .…”