The George Washington University (GWU) has developed a CubeSat-class thruster called the Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster (μ CAT). The μCAT is a high Isp (2000–3500s), solid metal fueled, low average power (<0.1 W when operating) micro-thruster of small cross section (5 mm), with a mass of less than 200g, and no pressurant tanks. Electric current forms a plasma discharge between a concentric cathode-anode configuration. Thrust is produced through arc discharge, eroding some of the cathode material in uniform manner, to exit at high velocity, during which it is accelerated out the nozzle by a Lorentz force. Thrust can be controlled by varying the frequency of pulses, with a demonstrated range to date of 1–50 Hz, (1 μN–0.05 mN). The μ CAT design achieves uniform electrode erosion, and has demonstrated over two months of continuous operation during trials. The system operates at low voltage, accepting unregulated DC power from the spacecraft bus. The corresponding exhaust plume is 99% percent ionized, with near zero backflux. New ideas for high thrust-to power ratio microthruster will be discussed.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff prüfen

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen

    Bestellung bei Subito €


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster for small satellite propulsion


    Beteiligte:


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2016-03-01


    Format / Umfang :

    2375922 byte




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch




    Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster for Small Satellite Propulsion (AIAA 2015-0938)

    Keidar, Michael / Zhuang, Taisen / Shashurin, Alexey et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2015


    Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster for PhoneSat Propulsion

    Keidar, M. / Haque, S. / Zhuang, T. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2013


    MICRO-CATHODE ARC THRUSTER

    KEIDAR MICHAEL / TEEL GEORGE / HURLEY SAMANTHA A | Europäisches Patentamt | 2017

    Freier Zugriff

    Hollow Cathode Micro Thruster

    Katz, Ira / Davis, V. / Mandell, M. et al. | AIAA | 2000