Solid Propellant Microthruster Design for Nanosatellite Applications

Sathiyanathan, Kartheephan; Lee, Regina; Chesser, Hugh; Dubois, Charles; Stowe, Robert; Farinaccio, Rocco; Ringuette, Sophie

doi:10.2514/1.56423

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…However, with the advance of MEMS technology, more integrated devices can be accommodated in very small spacecraft. This Other conventional manufacturing approaches also allow the development of advanced systems that may be compatible with CubeSat standards [96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113]. Also, innovative propellants, especially green ones, might open the path to new concepts of thrusters or new ways of using them.…”

Section: Future Developmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of MEMS micropropulsion technologies for CubeSats and PocketQubes

et al. 2018

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CubeSats have been extensively used in the past decade as scientific tools, technology demonstrators and for education. Recently, PocketQubes have emerged as an interesting and even smaller alternative to CubeSats. However, both satellite types often lack some key capabilities, such as micropropulsion, in order to further extend the range of applications of these small satellites. This paper reviews the current development status of micropropulsion systems fabricated with MEMS (micro electro-mechanical systems) and silicon technology intended to be used in CubeSat or PocketQube missions and compares different technologies with respect to performance parameters such as thrust, specific impulse, and power as well as in terms of operational complexity. More than 30 different devices are analyzed and divided into 7 main categories according to the working principle. A specific outcome of the research is the identification of the current status of MEMS technologies for micropropulsion including key opportunities and challenges.

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Section: Future Developmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of MEMS micropropulsion technologies for CubeSats and PocketQubes

et al. 2018

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“…To mitigate this disadvantage, a system of hundreds of Solid Propellant Micro-thrusters (SPMs) has been proposed in Ref. [40]; these micro-thrusters can be used by forming a tightly spaced matrix (within the constraints of available external surface area). In SPMs, solid energetic propellant is burnt (during combustion process) and the resultant gases are accelerated through micro-nozzles.…”

Section: Design Considerations and Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In SPMs, solid energetic propellant is burnt (during combustion process) and the resultant gases are accelerated through micro-nozzles. The size of the thruster can be modified to suit the thrust requirements and programmable thrust delivery can be achieved via simultaneous or sequential firing of multiple thrusters [40]. A typical SRP micro-thruster makes use of MEMS technology and comprises of several laminated layers containing a combustion chamber, an igniter, a nozzle, and a seal [41].…”

Section: Design Considerations and Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overview of Cube-Satellite Propulsion Technologies and Trends

2017

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CubeSats provide a cost effective means to perform scientific and technological studies in space. Due to their affordability, CubeSat technologies have been diversely studied and developed by educational institutions, companies and space organizations all over the world. The CubeSat technology that is surveyed in this paper is the propulsion system. A propulsion system is the primary mobility device of a spacecraft and helps with orbit modifications and attitude control. This paper provides an overview of micro-propulsion technologies that have been developed or are currently being developed for CubeSats. Some of the micro-propulsion technologies listed have also flown as secondary propulsion systems on larger spacecraft. Operating principles and key design considerations for each class of propulsion system are outlined. Finally, the performance factors of micro-propulsion systems have been summarized in terms of: first, a comparison of thrust and specific impulse for all propulsion systems; second, a comparison of power and specific impulse, as also thrust-to-power ratio and specific impulse for electric propulsion systems.

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“…Nanosatellite platforms are rapidly gaining popularity as alternatives to traditional satellite systems, due to their decreased production and delivery costs [1]- [7]. Nanosatellite use is projected to increase by over 10 times during the next five years [6], and will secure a dominant role in satellite applications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Directional Microplasma Thruster Exhibiting a Switchable Intense Plasma Coupling

2020

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Conventional cold and warm gas thrusters with low specific impulses and thrust greatly limit the capability of nanosatellites to conduct meaningful plane and attitude changes in space. This work shows that a novel flexible microplasma thruster (FPT) technology can yield high thrust performance at sufficient specific impulse. The FPT consisting of a seven-jet bundle generated a maximum thrust of 61.9 mN with helium at less than 30 W in ambient atmosphere, and 64.3 mN in vacuum at less than 2 W via jet-to-jet coupling. To further enhance the thrust contributions from both the plasma emission and gas discharge, a novel micro-nozzle was embedded at the end of the glass fiber. The resulting supersonic gas-exhaust velocity from the nozzle increased the thrust output of a single fiber by 300%. This versatile system is a promising microplasma thruster technology suitable for flight demonstration onboard a CubeSat platform, thus changing the nano-satellite paradigm from passive sensor carriers to a fully capable spacecraft. INDEX TERMS microplasma, thruster, plasma coupling, microplasma nozzle effect.

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Solid Propellant Microthruster Design for Nanosatellite Applications

Cited by 7 publications

References 14 publications

A review of MEMS micropropulsion technologies for CubeSats and PocketQubes

A review of MEMS micropropulsion technologies for CubeSats and PocketQubes

An Overview of Cube-Satellite Propulsion Technologies and Trends

A Directional Microplasma Thruster Exhibiting a Switchable Intense Plasma Coupling

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