Pulsed Plasma Thrusters

Abstract

Since first launched in 1964 by the Soviet Union aboard Zond-2, Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPTs) have come a long way to currently enjoying the heritage of eleven successful flights and about fourteen active R&D laboratories around the world. Renewed interest in PPTs has been kindled by the growing microsatellite industry due to their performance at low powers, precise impulse bit, throttling capability, simplicity, and robustness. For the purpose of mission planning, the field of PPTs is plagued with various, often contradicting, naming schemes. It is imperative for the community to agree in a certain classification scheme. The present work presents a suitable classification to the immense variety of electrode geometries, feed-mechanisms, propellant state of matter, ignition-mechanism, and energy ratings . It was found PPTs could be classified via energy input in much the same way as microsatellites are classified according to their mass and power. Furthermore, an extensive PPT data base amassed over the years at IRS allows large-scale performance comparisons between PPT geometries and other EP technologies revealing important patterns for mission design.

Ion thrusters for electric propulsion: Scientific issues developing a niche technology into a game changer

“…39 The Russian space probe Zond-2 was launched on November 30, 1964, from Baikonur Cosmodrome. 40,41 It was supposed to explore Mars in a flyby mission. However, communication was lost in May 1965 before it reached Mars.…”

“…104 We do not provide a detailed description of all individual thruster types here and refer the reader-to beside the already mentioned-to other relevant literature. 41,[105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112] All three main thruster types have in common that electrical energy is converted into kinetic energy of the exhausted particles to generate or increase thrust. This energy conversion process differs in efficiency for the three types and is also very different in terms of the complexity of the technical implementation.…”

Analysis of effective parameters on ablative PPT performance

“…Pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) is one of the most promising space propulsion systems to perform various propulsive tasks, including translational maneuvers and orbital maneuvers, on micro-and nano-satellites as it offers many advantages over other types of thrusters from the same league. Some of its advantages are listed below (Burton and Turchi, 1998). PPT can produce impulse bits in a wide range from very low mN-s up to mN-s with a specific impulse around 1,000 s or even more:…”