This presentation provides an overview of recent activities at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in the development and performance test characterization of electric propulsion subsystems intended for small satellite (SmallSat) and cubesat missions. The status and recent progress of several on-going development activities related to smallsat/cubesat missions at GRC will be discussed. These projects and activities include Sub-Kilowatt Electric Propulsion (SKEP), iodine compatibility testing of Hall thruster components, performance testing of a cold gas propulsion system for BioSentinel, and performance testing of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology electrospray propulsion units. The functions and capabilities of GRC's Electric Propulsion Systems Branch will be covered. These capabilities are available to provide propulsion subsystem manufacturers independent, third-party assessments of their technologies for use on future NASA missions. A plan to generate standards for the development of smallsat/cubesat propulsion systems for Class D missions has been initiated and will be outlined in this presentation.
NASA Glenn SmallSat/CubeSat Activities and Capabilities
2018
20 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Space Technology , Combustion, Engines, & Propellants , Cubesats , Design analysis , Electric propulsion , Hall thrusters , Propulsion system configurations , Propulsion system performance , Small satellite technology , Spacecraft models , Calibrating , Performance tests , User manuals (computer programs)