Development and Chamber Testing of a Miniature Radio-Frequency Ion Thruster for Microspacecraft

Details Development and Chamber Testing of a Miniature Radio-Frequency Ion Thruster for Microspacecraft Development and Chamber Testing of a Miniature Radio-Frequency Ion Thruster for Microspacecraft

Publishing date

Oct 2004

URL

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004esasp.555e..19m&link_type=abstract

Journals

Proceedings of the 4th International Spacecraft Propulsion Conference (ESA SP-555). 2-9 June, 2004, Chia Laguna (Cagliari), Sard

Science

Physics

Type

Scientific paper

Abstract

The high specific impulse provided by electric propulsion devices make them highly desirable for space missions in which the propellant mass budget is limited. The ion thruster is of particular interest because of its simplicity and its ability to make rapid changes in thrust by modifying input power level and acceleration grid potential. With respect to micro- and nanosatellites, a miniature ion thruster could provide an attractive method for changing spacecraft attitude and spin rate, as well as for enabling formation flying. A miniature radio frequency ion thruster (MRIT) is being developed and tested at The Pennsylvania State University. It consists of a radio frequency coil operating at a frequency of 13.56 MHz surrounding an ionization chamber capped with accelerating grids. This paper discusses the ongoing development work and testing of the MRIT for inclusion on the LionSat nanosatellite.

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