Microplasma thruster for ultra-small satellites: Plasma chemical and aerodynamical aspects

• Published in: Pure and applied chemistry Vol. 80; no. 9; pp. 2013 - 2023
• Main Authors: Takao, Yoshinori, Takahashi, Takeshi, Eriguchi, Koji, Ono, Kouichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin De Gruyter 01-09-2008; Walter de Gruyter GmbH
• Subjects: electric propulsion; Energy conversion efficiency; microdischarge; micronozzle flow; microplasma; microplasma jets; Microplasmas; micropropulsion; Microspacecraft; microthrusters; nano- and pico-satellites; Organic chemistry; plasma thrusters; Power efficiency; Small satellites; Specific impulse; surface wave-excited plasma
• ISSN: 0033-4545; 1365-3075
• DOI: 10.1351/pac200880092013

A microplasma thruster has been developed of electrothermal type using azimuthally symmetric microwave-excited microplasmas. The microplasma source was ~2 mm in diameter and ~10 mm long, being operated at around atmospheric pressures; the micronozzle was a converging-diverging type, having a throat ~0.2 mm in diameter and ~1 mm long. Numerical and experimental results with Ar as a working gas demonstrated that this miniature electrothermal thruster gives a thrust of >1 mN, a specific impulse of ~100 s, and a thrust efficiency of ~10 % at a microwave power of <10 W, making it applicable to attitude-control and station-keeping maneuver for a microspacecraft of <10 kg.