Design, manufacturing and characterization of a 1 milliNewton class FEEP emitter

Paper number

IAC-13,C4,P,37.p1,x18300

Author

Dr. Angela Rossodivita, Alta S.p.A., Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Ugo Cesari, Alta SpA, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Francesco Nania, Alta SpA, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Leonardo Priami, Alta S.p.A., Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Nicola Giusti, Alta SpA, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Paolo Balducci, Alta SpA, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Federico Cannelli, Alta SpA, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Luca Paita, Alta SpA, Italy

Coauthor

Prof. Mariano Andrenucci, Alta SpA, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Denis Estublier, ESA/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Year

2013

Abstract

FEEP thrusters are recognized to have unique performances among technologies for space propulsion. Among others, main advantages of the FEEP  technology are:
\begin{itemize}\item high specific impulse, ranging between 5000 and 9000 s;\end{itemize} 
\begin{itemize}\item low thrust noise, 0.1 $\mu$N/\begin{math}\sqrt{Hz}\end{math} which is below the nano-balance detection threshold;\end{itemize} 
\begin{itemize}\item short response time, ranging between 50 and 150 ms, depending on the thrust step and initial thrust level;\end{itemize} 
\begin{itemize}\item thrust resolution below 100 nN;\end{itemize} 
\begin{itemize}\item low nominal power at thruster level, about 6 W at 100 $\mu$N of thrust; \end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item high thrust accuracy.
\end{itemize}
As part of the development of the 150 $\mu$N class FEEP thruster (FT-150 FEEP Thruster),  Alta performed the characterization of thruster performance as a function of a number of geometrical parameters of the emitter. This allowed the optimization of a set of key geometrical parameters of the emitter as well as the identification of the emitter manufacturing process.

Based on the lesson learnt from the FT-150 development, a 1 mN Class FEEP emitter was designed and manufactured totally in-house,  implementing an optimized manufacturing process.
The emitter was tested and its performance fully characterized.
The emitter showed a very stable emission in the 100-1000 $\mu$N thrust range while confirming its peculiar characteristics of short time response and high specific impulse.
 
This article provides a description of the emitter and of its manufacturing process, presents main test results after a description of the dedicated set-up and of main characteristics of the thruster.

Abstract document

IAC-13,C4,P,37.p1,x18300.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

(absent)