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Micro Cathode Arc Thruster for PhoneSat: Development and Potential ApplicationsNASA Ames Research Center and the George Washington University are developing an electric propulsion subsystem that will be integrated into the PhoneSat bus. Experimental tests have shown a reliable performance by firing three different thrusters at various frequencies in vacuum conditions. The interface consists of a microcontroller that sends a trigger pulse to the Pulsed Plasma Unit that is responsible for the thruster operation. A Smartphone is utilized as the main user interface for the selection of commands that control the entire system. The propellant, which is the cathode itself, is a solid cylinder made of Titanium. This simplicity in the design avoids miniaturization and manufacturing problems. The characteristics of this thruster allow an array of μCATs to perform attitude control and orbital correction maneuvers that will open the door for the implementation of an extensive collection of new mission concepts and space applications for CubeSats. NASA Ames is currently working on the integration of the system to fit the thrusters and the PPU inside a 1.5U CubeSat together with the PhoneSat bus. This satellite is intended to be deployed from the ISS in 2015 and test the functionality of the thrusters by spinning the satellite around its long axis and measure the rotational speed with the phone gyros. This test flight will raise the TRL of the propulsion system from 5 to 7 and will be a first test for further CubeSats with propulsion systems, a key subsystem for long duration or interplanetary small satellite missions.
Document ID
20140013456
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Gazulla, Oriol Tintore (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Perez, Andres Dono (Universities Space Research Association Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Agasid, Elwood (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Uribe, Eddie (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Trinh, Greenfield (Universities Space Research Association Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Keidar, Michael (George Washington Univ. Washington, DC, United States)
Teel, George (George Washington Univ. Washington, DC, United States)
Haque, Samudra (George Washington Univ. Washington, DC, United States)
Lukas, Joseph (George Washington Univ. Washington, DC, United States)
Salas, Alberto Guillen (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Wolfe, Jasper (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Attai, Watson (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Oyadomari, Ken (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Priscal, Cedric (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Schimmin, Rogan (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
November 11, 2014
Publication Date
May 26, 2014
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN14562
Meeting Information
Meeting: Small Satellite Systems and Services (4S) Symposium
Location: Porto Petro, Mojorca
Country: Spain
Start Date: May 26, 2014
End Date: May 30, 2014
Sponsors: European Space Agency. European Space Research and Technology Center, ESTEC, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
Funding Number(s)
OTHER: 00353.001C.002.038SGT.006
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX14AF94A
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA08CG83C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA13AC87C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
CUBESAT
PROPULSION
PHONESAT

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