Chemical propulsion systems with potential application to microsatellites are classified by propellant phase, i.e. gas, liquid, or solid. Four promising concepts are selected based on performance, weight, size, cost, and reliability. The selected concepts, in varying stages of development, are advanced monopropellants, tridyne(TM), electrolysis, and solid gas generator propulsion. Tridyne(TM) and electrolysis propulsion are compared vs. existing cold gas and monopropellant systems for selected microsatellite missions. Electrolysis is shown to provide a significant weight advantage over monopropellant propulsion for an orbit transfer and plane change mission. Tridyne(TM) is shown to provide a significant advantage over cold gas thrusters for orbit trimming and spacecraft separation.
Chemical Microthruster Options
1996
20 pages
Report
No indication
English
Rocket Engines & Motors , Rocket Propellants , Spacecraft propulsion , Gas generators , Propulsion system performance , Microrocket engines , Electrolysis , Chemical propulsion , Weight(Mass) , Microthrust , Monopropellants , Control rockets , Comparison , Tradeoffs , Gaseous rocket propellants , Small satellite technology
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