A matrix thruster that may be used to reposition and/or stabilize a CubeSAT satellite. The matrix thruster includes a conductive plate with an opening, a plurality of wires within the opening, a power supply electrically connected to the conductive plate or each of the plurality of wires via an inductor, and an electrical switch. The electrical switch creates a current change that creates an electric potential spike across the inductor. The electric potential spike across the inductor initiates an arc discharge between one of the wires and the conductive plate, which forms plasma that ejects cathode particles from the matrix thruster. Using multiple wires (e.g., four titanium wires) extends the lifetime of the thruster, as each wire restores an inter-electrode film needed for the other wires to continue generating plasma.
MICRO-CATHODE MATRIX ARC THRUSTERS
2021-03-18
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS |
Cathode phenomena in plasma thrusters
AIAA | 1990
|LM cathode electron-bombardment thrusters
AIAA | 1967
Cathode Phenomena in Plasma Thrusters
Online Contents | 1993
|Cathode Jet of Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1999
|