Additive Manufacturing of Ion Thruster Optics

Plasma Controls will manufacture and test a set of ion optics for electric propulsion ion thrusters using additive manufacturing technology, also known as 3D printing. Additive manufacturing can potentially produce optics with novel or complex geometry that have better performance compared to those made traditionally, while also giving cost and mass savings.

High performance optics can be utilized on both high power, nuclear-scale or multi-thruster spacecraft for instance, and on low power small/micro/nano-scale spacecraft and satellites of current interest to the Science Mission Directorate. Ion thrusters, utilizing optics, are attractive for deep-space use due to their high specific impulse. Miniaturized ion thrusters can provide nontrivial delta-V capability to CubeSats for orbit raising, orbit plane changes, and potentially allow CubeSats to leave Earth-orbit or perform ambitious deep-space maneuvers.

Gridded ion sources are used extensively in the semiconductor and electro-optical manufacturing industry in etching (sputtering and reactive ion) and physical vapor deposition processes. Optics made using additive manufacturing can potentially meet custom beam-shape or target-profile needs with less-constrained physical shape requirements.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.