Micropropulsion Developments at AIT
- Paper number
IAC-09.C4.8.5
- Author
Dr. Martin Tajmar, Austrian Research Centers GmbH (ARC), Austria
- Coauthor
Dr. Carsten Scharlemann, ARC Seibersdorf research, Austria
- Year
2009
- Abstract
The increasing application of micro-satellites (from 10 kg up to 100 kg) as well as CubeSats for a rising number of various missions demands the development of miniaturized propulsion systems. The Austrian Research Centers are developing a number of micropropulsion technologies including both electric and chemical thrusters targeting high-performance at small scales. Our electric propulsion developments include FEEP thrusters with thrust ranges from $\mu$µN to mN using highly-integrated clusters of indium Liquid-Metal-Ion Sources providing ultralow thrust noise and long-term stability, as well as the development of a micro PPT thruster enabling pointing capabilities for CubeSats. For chemical thrusters, we are developing novel micro-monopropellant thrusters with several hundred mN as well as a 1-2N bi-propellant micro rocket engine using green propellants and high specific impulse performance. This paper will give an overview of our micropropulsion developments highlighting performance as well as possible applications.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-09.C4.8.5.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.