Development and test of a cost-efficient gridded ion thruster propulsion system for small satellites – IonJet

Ion production cost of a gridded helicon ion thruster

Helicon plasma sources are capable of efficiently ionizing propellants and have been considered for application in electric propulsion. However, studies that estimate the ion production cost of the helicon plasma source are limited and rely on estimates of the extracted ion current. The ion production cost of a helicon plasma source is determined using a gridded ion thruster configuration that ...

Development of a Power Efficient, Restartable, "Green" Propellant Thruster for Small Spacecraft and Satellites

This paper details the development of an innovative "green" hybrid rocket propulsion system, applicable to small spacecraft. When fully developed this propulsion technology has the potential to act as a "drop in" replacement for propulsion system utilizing hazardous propellants such as hydrazine. Fuel grains are manufactured using a form of additive manufacturing known as Fused Deposition Model...

Dormant Cathode Erosion in a Multiple-Cathode Gridded Ion Thruster

A rectangular gridded ion thruster discharge chamber is investigated for operation with multiple discharge cathode assemblies. The multiple-cathode approach attempts to increase thruster throughput and lifetime by operating three discharge cathode assemblies sequentially, possibly providing a threefold increase in discharge chamber life. Previous multiple-cathode electric propulsion devices, su...

SSC04-XI-6 Advancing the Utility of Small Satellites with the Development of a Hybrid Electric-Laser Propulsion (HELP) System

Some of the major space operational capabilities desired for modernizing and transforming our existing space infrastructure include: 1) in-space robotic assembly of modular structures, 2) routine spacecraft repositioning and rescue services, 3) use of formations of satellites that can perform functions not possible with traditional single large structures. All of these applications can make use...

Cold Gas Propulsion System – An Ideal Choice for Remote Sensing Small Satellites