MEMS Mega-Pixel Micro-Thruster Array

Abstract

Small satellites flying in clusters require periodic "stationkeeping" to keep them in place. The required impulse is very small - the goal is not to keep the individual satellites in rigid formation, but only to keep them in well-defined orbitals with respect to one another. The necessary impulse, therefore, is only the amount needed to overcome the difference in drag between the most-affected and the least-affected satellites in the cluster. Estimates are that the differential drag can be overcome by providing -l uNsec (micro-Newton second) to -l mN sec (milli-Newton gecond) every 10 to 100 seconds throughout each satellite's mission. The system we are developing will do that. The thrusters have very low power and energy thresholds for ignition ( 10 mWatts, 100 Joules), and no moving parts so they are expected to be highly reliable. A single thruster array contains a quarter of a million separate thrusters.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 14, 2000
Accession Number
ADA386952

Entities

People

  • Daniel W. Youngner

Organizations

  • Honeywell International, Inc.

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Ceramic Materials
  • Chemistry
  • Equations
  • Explosions
  • Igniters
  • Ignition
  • Internal Pressure
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Measurement
  • Microsatellites
  • Research Facilities
  • Self Assembled Monolayers
  • Simulations
  • Small Satellites
  • Thrusters
  • Vacuum

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Regression Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Satellites