Additively Manufactured Low Power Thrusters for Secondary Payloads

Arctic Slope Technical Services, ASTS, is pleased to propose this innovative approach for reducing the cost and power requirements for an electrically-heated, stored gas thruster well-suited for use in small spacecraft and satellites (CubeSats and NanoSats especially). The thruster features exceptionally-high heat transfer from the heaters to the gas, which will provide excellent Isp performance at much lower power than traditional thrusters. We will also use an additive manufacturing approach, which will greatly reduce production costs.

NASA applications include future CubeSat and NanoSat vehicles with large attitude control and/or orbital velocity changes, both of which require an active propulsion subsystem. Lunar Flashlight, a JPL-managed CubeSat that will be used to identify pockets of water ice on the Moon, is one such example.

University researchers all over the world use CubeSats at a fast, and increasing, rate. It represents a huge potential market that supports our commercialization goals.

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.

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