Study of a side-fed, tongue-flared configured Pulsed Plasma Thruster
Document Type
Conference Item
Publication Date
2-1-2021
Abstract
The demand for low cost propulsion systems for the next generation of satellites and the development of miniature CubeSat concept have renewed interest in the Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT). PPT is a type of electric propulsion that makes use of transient plasma to accelerate ablated solid fuel propellent to high speed. Hence, the resultant impulse is highly dependent on the plasma discharge parameters. A side-fed, tongue-flared configuration PPT operated at a low energy range of 2 J was able to deliver an impulse bit of 25 +/- 2 mu Ns. The plasma discharge species were identified from optical emission spectroscopy while the electron temperature and density were determined using the triple Langmuir probe method.
Keywords
Satellites, Electric propulsion, Emission, Low energy
Divisions
PHYSICS
Funders
None
Volume
2319
Event Title
14th Asia Pacific Physics Conference, APPC 2019
Event Location
Kuching, Sarawak
Event Dates
17 - 22 November 2019
Event Type
conference