Endurance testing of a pulsed plasma thruster for nanosatellites

: The micro pulsed plasma thruster (micro-PPT) is a simple and versatile electric thruster capable of performing multiple missions, from precise attitude control on standard satellites to primary propulsion for nanosatellites. In order to fill this role as both industry and government move toward utilizing smaller satellites, micro-PPTs first need to be thoroughly tested on the ground. This study examines the deposition profile and rate of particle emission from the thruster so that satellite designers understand any potential contamination issues with sensitive instruments and solar panels. Employing a newly assembled vacuum chamber system, four tests were completed with the micro-PPTs, and the results showed that particles discharge in all directions, with the surfaces directly facing the propellant tube collecting exponentially more particle deposition than surfaces at wider angles.

https://scholar.afit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3930&context=etd

Vacuum Chamber Construction and Contamination Study of a Micro Pulsed Plasma Thruster

: Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPT) have been the major technology under investigation for the Small Satellite Electric Propulsion Thruster Research program Arcjet technology is also under investigation with Electric Propulsion Space Experiment Optical Signature experiments underway and Multiphoton Laser Induced Fluorescence Measurements of Ground State Atomic Hydrogen have been performed in an arcjet plume At present PPTs are being tested in the laboratory environment with investigations under way to determine exact inefficiency mechanisms that can be corrected This work has already identified previously unknown physical behavior in the PPT The Electric Propulsion Space Experiment is a flight demonstration of a 30 kW ammonia arcjet propulsion system Optical measurements of the arcjet plume were performed using on-board optical equipment ground observatories and other space platforms Low power arcjet technology provided definitive work on atomic species plume concentrations in low power hydrogen arcjet plumes This work applied a flame diagnostic Multiphoton Laser Induced Fluorescence to the excited-state plasma environment to investigate concentration levels of atomic ground-state hydrogen

/pdf/basic-research-in-electric-propulsion-part-i-pulsed-plasma-2bqcp3po6m.pdf

Basic Research in Electric Propulsion. Part I: Pulsed Plasma Thruster Propellant Efficiency and Contamination. Part II: Arcjet Remote Plume Measurement and Hydrogen Density

G. G. Spanjers

Papers

Basic Research in Electric Propulsion. Part I: Pulsed Plasma Thruster Propellant Efficiency and Contamination. Part II: Arcjet Remote Plume Measurement and Hydrogen Density