Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques offer great potential in satisfying the mission requirements for the next generation of 'micro-scale' satellites being designed by NASA and Department of Defense agencies. More commonly referred to as 'nanosats', these miniature satellites feature masses in the range of 10-100 kg and therefore have unique propulsion requirements. The propulsion systems must be capable of providing extremely low levels of thrust and impulse while also satisfying stringent demands on size, mass, power consumption and cost. We begin with an overview of micropropulsion requirements and some current MEMS-based strategies being developed to meet these needs. The remainder of the article focuses the progress being made at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center towards the development of a prototype monopropellant MEMS thruster which uses the catalyzed chemical decomposition of high concentration hydrogen peroxide as a propulsion mechanism. The products of decomposition are delivered to a micro-scale converging/diverging supersonic nozzle which produces the thrust vector; the targeted thrust level approximately 500 N with a specific impulse of 140-180 seconds. Macro-scale hydrogen peroxide thrusters have been used for satellite propulsion for decades; however, the implementation of traditional thruster designs on a MEMS scale has uncovered new challenges in fabrication, materials compatibility, and combustion and hydrodynamic modeling. A summary of the achievements of the project to date is given, as is a discussion of remaining challenges and future prospects.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    MEMS-Based Satellite Micropropulsion Via Catalyzed Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition


    Contributors:
    D. L. Hitt (author) / C. M. Zakrzwski (author) / M. A. Thomas (author)

    Publication date :

    2001


    Size :

    41 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    MEMS-Based Satellite Micropropulsion Via Catalyzed Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition

    Hitt, Darren L. / Zakrzwski, Charles M. / Thomas, Michael A. et al. | NTRS | 2001


    MEMS-Micropropulsion Activities at JPL

    Mueller, J. / Chakraborty, I. / Vargo, S. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1999


    MEMS Micropropulsion Components for Small Spacecraft

    Rangsten, P. / Johansson, H. / Bendixen, M. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2011


    An overview of MEMS-based micropropulsion developments at JPL

    Mueller, J. / Marrese, C. / Polk, J. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003


    AN OVERVIEW OF MEMS-BASED MICROPROPULSION DEVELOPMENTS AT JPL

    Mueller, Juergen | Online Contents | 2003