A matrix thruster that may be used to reposition and/or stabilize a CubeSAT satellite. The matrix thruster includes a conductive plate with an opening, a plurality of wires within the opening, a power supply electrically connected to the conductive plate or each of the plurality of wires via an inductor, and an electrical switch. The electrical switch creates a current change that creates an electric potential spike across the inductor. The electric potential spike across the inductor initiates an arc discharge between one of the wires and the conductive plate, which forms plasma that ejects cathode particles from the matrix thruster. Using multiple wires (e.g., four titanium wires) extends the lifetime of the thruster, as each wire restores an inter-electrode film needed for the other wires to continue generating plasma.


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    Titel :

    Micro-cathode matrix arc thrusters


    Beteiligte:
    DANIELS KEIR (Autor:in) / SWITZER ZACHARY (Autor:in) / KIAOULIAS DIMITRIS (Autor:in) / KEIDAR MICHAEL (Autor:in)

    Erscheinungsdatum :

    03.01.2023


    Medientyp :

    Patent


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch


    Klassifikation :

    IPC:    B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS



    MICRO-CATHODE MATRIX ARC THRUSTERS

    DANIELS KEIR / SWITZER ZACHARY / KIAOULIAS DIMITRIS et al. | Europäisches Patentamt | 2021

    Freier Zugriff

    Cathode phenomena in plasma thrusters

    AUWETER-KURTZ, MONIKA / GLOCKER, B. / KURTZ, H. et al. | AIAA | 1990


    Cathode phenomena in plasma thrusters

    SCHRADE, H. / AUWETER-KURTZ, M. / KURTZ, H. | AIAA | 1987


    LM cathode electron bombardment thrusters.

    Bayless, J. R. / Eckhardt, W. O. / Hyman, J., Jr. et al. | NTRS | 1969