Green Monopropellant Propulsion for Small Spacecrafts

The small spacecraft segment of the satellite industry is growing rapidly. More than 3500 small satellites are scheduled or projected to launch in the next 10-year period. If constellation systems are included, the number of small satellites jumps to 10000. Today, many small satellites are developed having no propulsion system or systems with low performance such as cold gas. The reason for this is that the technology readiness level for small size thrusters (< 1 N) are low or the thrusters and propulsion systems are too expensive. Plasma Processes has developed a green monopropellant 100 mN thruster that is suitable for use in small satellite systems. The thruster has currently a technology readiness level of 4-5, which does not yet enable this technology to be used in space. To enable reaching TRL-6, the thrusters need to be more thoroughly tested. The work proposed herein will investigate how the electro-deposition speed can be increased to allow for manufacturing of cheaper thrusters with shorter overall build time. Additionally, the Phase II 100 mN flight design thrusters will be qualified for use in space by performing extensive environmental tests, qualification tests, and hot firing tests. The thruster will reach TRL-6 at project completion.

The size of these thrusters, 100 mN, will allow for use on SmallSats and CubeSats typically ranging from 6U to 12U. Potential future NASA applications are endless. Some typical missions have been identified that could use small size thrusters: CAESAR (Asteroid mission), 12U spacecraft with Vacco LMP-103S propulsion Chariot (Mars), 12U spacecraft with Aerojet Rocketdyne MR-103M hydrazine thrusters Lunar Flashlight (Moon), 6U spacecraft with Vacco LMP-103S propulsion NEA Scout (Asteroid), 6U spacecraft using cold gas propulsion

Champs, 1U spacecraft with Aerojet Rocketdyne hydrazine thrusters CuSP (Solar), 6U spacecraft using SWRI cold gas propulsion SkyFire (Moon), 6U spacecraft using Lockheed Martin electrospray thrusters EQUULEUS (Earth), 6U spacecraft using JAXA boiling water thrusters

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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