Design and characterization of a nano-Newton resolution thrust stand.

A 10 nN resolution thrust-stand for micro-propulsion devices.

We report on the development of a nano-Newton thrust-stand that can measure up to 100 μN thrust from different types of microthrusters with 10 nN resolution. The compact thrust-stand measures the impingement force of the particles emitted from a microthruster onto a suspended plate of size 45 mm × 45 mm and with a natural frequency over 50 Hz. Using a homodyne (lock-in) readout provides strong ...

Accurate Measurement of Nano-Newton Thrust for Micropropulsion System Characterization

The ability to measure extremely low thrust levels with unusual precision is becoming more critical as attempts are made to characterize the performance of emerging micropropulsion systems. Many new attitude control concepts for nanospacecraft involve the production of thrust below 1 μN. A simple, but uniquely successful thrust stand has been developed and used to measure thrust levels as low a...

An Electrostatic Ion-guide and a High-resolution Thrust-stand for Characterization of Micro-propulsion Devices

Performance Measurements Using a Sub-Micronewton Resolution Thrust Stand

A sub-micronewton level thrust stand is used to evaluate the performance of five different microthrusters. Using a torsional balance design, the JPL microthrust stand (μTS) is capable of measuring steady-state thrust as low as 1 μN with sub-micronewton resolution and an impulse as low as 1 μNs with sub-micronewton-second resolution. The μTS can support a test object with a mass as large as 10 k...

Nozzle Plume Impingement on Spacecraft Surfaces: Effects of Surface Roughness

An experimental and numerical effort was undertaken to assess the effects of a cold gas (To=300K) nozzle plume impinging on a simulated spacecraft surface. The nozzle flow impingement is investigated experimentally using a nano-Newton resolution force balance and numerically using the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) numerical technique. The Reynolds number range investigated in this study ...