A new type of pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) for small satellite propulsion is investigated, of which the most innovative aspect is the use of a non-volatile liquid propellant. The thruster is based on an open capillary design. The thruster achieved a thrust-to-power ratio above 45 μN/W, which constitutes a 5-fold improvement over the water-propelled pulsed plasma thruster, and which is also slightly above the performance of a similarly sized PPT with a solid propellant.
© 2015 Agnieszka Szelecka, Jacek Kurzyna, Dariusz Daniłko, Serge Barral, published by Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology
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