High-Impulse, Scalable, Metal Plasma Thruster for Cubesat Missions

This CCRPP project will be conducted as a joint effort by AASC with Benchmark, via a sub-contract to Benchmark.AASC (working with Licensing partner and subcontractor Benchmark Space Systems) will deliver 12 thrusters to NovaWurks by early 2024. One CONOPS under consideration is to array two groups of 6 thrusters each, on opposite sides of the spacecraft. This allows for a mission goal to deactivate links and separate two halves of the spacecraft by a short distance. The Xantus engines would be fired to dock the halves together, marking a first such precision maneuver in LEO for small satellites. The very small impulse bits of the Xantus (~0.2mNs/pulse) and the ability to control the firing sequence of multiple thrusters, affords fine control of the spacecraft halves, allowing for very precise docking maneuvers, not possible to such a high degree of precision using chemical propulsion or simple gas blow-down thrusters. Such a demonstration would be the first step in more elaborate Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, Docking (RPOD) maneuvers that would revolutionize in-space operation. Support modules may then be sent to larger satellites in GEO to supply extra impulse, or to refuel in orbit.Solar Cruiser is a challenging NASA mission. It would be the first major demonstration of solar sail propulsion. Solar Cruiser will unfurl (at 1M miles from earth in a Lagrange Libration orbit) a sail that is about seven tennis courts in area and uses solar radiation pressure to move that orbit. The satellite must also include some form of electric propulsion for attitude keeping, torque correction and other small maneuvers. NASA/MSFC has chosen Xantus as the primary thruster of choice for this mission. AASC with its licensing partner Benchmark Space Systems, will advance its Xantus Electric Propulsion Thruster for small spacecraft to commercial sales during and after this CCRPP project. The present TRL6 technology will be advanced to TRL8 with a flight opportunity and to MRL8 to deliver hundreds of commercial units in the period 2023 and beyond. The Xantus thruster is best-in-class among 1U electric propulsion options. The main objectives of the CCRPP project are to make a few design improvements to the already flight-ready thruster and render it more robust and reproducible. A radiation tolerant PPU will be validated in this project. The work will be accomplished at Benchmark facilities using several vacuum chambers and Benchmark personnel with expertise in electronics and mass manufacturing. 12 flight-ready Xantus units will be qualified. 12 will be delivered to one investment customer for a 2024 flight opportunity.Two will be delivered to the Solar Cruiser mission for a flight to a libration point in 2027/2028. The deliverables to NASA will be quarterly Demonstration Reports

For the Solar Cruiser Mission, the mission enabling technology is a rad-tolerant PPU. Operating in an orbit that is ~1M miles from earth, the Xantus thrusters must withstand the harsh radiation environment.  This CCRPP award will enable us to accelerate and augment development of  a radiation tolerant PPU and conduct rigorous stress-testing of the PPU in vacuum, to deliver a more reliable product to Solar Cruiser. Other deep space missions would also benefit from this development. Once we have flight heritage (NovaWurks flight in 2024) we expect commercial sales to ramp up. Conversations are underway with interested parties for constellations in LEO. Xantus' simplicity and ease of operation, along with its small impulse bits that allow precision attitude adjustment and fine positioning, will make it the thruster of choice for satellites in the 20kg - 250kg class.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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