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Pulsed Plasma Thruster Technology for Small Satellite MissionsPulsed plasma thrusters (PPT's) offer the combined benefits of extremely low average electric power requirements (1 to 150 W), high specific impulse (approximately 1000 s), and system simplicity derived from the use of an inert solid propellant. Potential applications range from orbit insertion and maintenance of small satellites to attitude control for large geostationary communications satellites. While PPT's have been used operationally on several spacecraft, there has been no new PPT technology development since the early 1970's. As result of the rapid growth in the small satellite community and the broad range of PPT applications, NASA has initiated a development program with the objective of dramatically reducing the PPT dry mass, increasing PPT performance, and demonstrating a flight ready system by October 1997. This paper presents the results of a series of near-Earth mission studies including both primary and auxiliary propulsion and attitude control functions and reviews the status of NASA's on-going development program.
Document ID
19960011377
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Myers, Roger M. (NYMA, Inc. Brook Park, OH, United States)
Oleson, Steven R. (NYMA, Inc. Brook Park, OH, United States)
Mcguire, Melissa (Analex Corp. Brook Park, OH., United States)
Meckel, Nicole J. (Olin Aerospace Co. Redmond, WA., United States)
Cassady, R. Joseph (Olin Aerospace Co. Redmond, WA., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1995
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
E-10014
NIPS-96-07534
NAS 1.26:198427
NASA-CR-198427
Meeting Information
Meeting: Annual Small Satellite Conference
Location: Logan, UT
Country: United States
Start Date: September 18, 1995
End Date: September 21, 1995
Sponsors: AIAA and Utah State Univ.
Accession Number
96N17813
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 233-1B-1B
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS3-27186
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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