Electric propulsion for small satellites

Abstract

Propulsion is required for satellite motion in outer space. The displacement of a satellite in space, orbit transfer and its attitude control are the task of space propulsion, which is carried out by rocket engines. Electric propulsion uses electric energy to energize or accelerate the propellant. The electric propulsion, which uses electrical energy to accelerate propellant in the form of plasma, is known as plasma propulsion. Plasma propulsion utilizes the electric energy to first, ionize the propellant and then, deliver energy to the resulting plasma leading to plasma acceleration. Many types of plasma thrusters have been developed over last 50 years. The variety of these devices can be divided into three main categories dependent on the mechanism of acceleration: (i) electrothermal, (ii) electrostatic and (iii) electromagnetic. Recent trends in space exploration associate with the paradigm shift towards small and efficient satellites, or micro-and nano-satellites. A particular example of microthruster considered in this paper is the micro-cathode arc thruster (µCAT). The µCAT is based on vacuum arc discharge. Thrust is produced when the arc discharge erodes some of the cathode at high velocity and is accelerated out the nozzle by a Lorentz force. The thrust amount is controlled by varying the frequency of pulses with demonstrated range to date of 1-50 Hz producing thrust ranging from 1 µN to 0.05 mN.

A Comprehensive Cold Gas Performance Study of the Pocket Rocket Radiofrequency Electrothermal Microthruster

“…Electrostatic propulsion has been dominated by a large variety of gridded ion thrusters, the most recent developments including NASA's annular-geometry ion engine (AGI-Engine) [11,12] and the NASA evolutionary xenon thruster (NEXT) [13,14], but also include experimental technologies like the field emission electric propulsion (FEEP) concept [15] and its precedent colloid thrusters. Finally, electromagnetic propulsion boasts the mature Hall-effect thruster [16] and its variants [17][18][19], as well as newer technologies like magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters [20,21] and ablative pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) [22]. For more information, a comprehensive review of electric propulsion is available in Charles [23] and Mazouffre [24], while Micci and Ketsdever [25] and Scharfe and Ketsdever [26] compiles a review of both classes of propulsion technologies with a specific focus on micropropulsion for microspacecraft.…”

Space Propulsion Technology for Small Spacecraft

“…Vacuum arc thrusters are similar to PPTs in terms of mechanical design, but initiate a lower power discharge that ablates anode material, and have been specifically developed for low power Nanosatellites [45], [46].…”

Thruster Subsystem for the United States Naval Academy's (USNA) Ballistically Reinforced Communication Satellite (BRICSat-P)

“…Vacuum arc thrusters are a type of plasma-based electric propulsion that utilizes two metallic electrodes, separated by a dielectric insulator, that ionizes propellant to release a plasma acceleration. 9,1) This type of system is ideal because it is a compact way to propel a CubeSat without the use of heavy propellant tanks or risk of explosion, while also being triggerless, which reduces the overall volume of the propulsion system. In addition, they also have low energy consumption and require less fuel to stay functional for a longer duration.…”