2019.B.3.1. Latest Progress of Micro-Propulsion Development Activities In BICE

Author(s)

Xuhui Liu (1)

Beijing Institute of Control Engineering, China

Session

B.3

Keywords

ADN Based Propellant, Non-toxic Micro Propulsion Technology, Solid Cool Gas Micro-propulsion Module, Micro-cathode arc Micro-propulsion Module Technology

Abstract

In order to meet the needs of different microsatellite missions, (Beijing Institute of Control Engineering)BICE has developed a variety of micro propulsion technology, which covers cold gas propulsion technology, chemical propulsion technology and electric propulsion technology . And the detail technologies include the solid cool gas micro propulsion module, ADN based non-toxic micro propulsion module and micro-cathode arc propulsion module.

The solid cool gas micro propulsion module consists of chamber, cool gas generators, pressure sensors, thrusters, controller&driver. Cool gas generators allow an efficient storage of the propellant in solid form.The total impulse of the solid cool gas micro propulsion module is 100N•s, the power is 2W and the weight is 1.2kg. The ADN based non-toxic micro propulsion module contains propellant tank, service valve, thrusters, pressure sensor, filters and so on, and the module will be pressured by the solid gas generators. The total impulse of the ADN based non-toxic micro propulsion module is 800Ns, the power is 4W and the weight is 1.3kg. The micro-cathode arc thruster (μCAT) is based on the physical phenomenon of vacuum (cathodic) arcs, because of the micro-cathode arc micro-propulsion module using solid metal as the propellant, it’s very easy and safe for long term stored. Its pulsed work style makes the input. The total impulse of the micro-cathode arc propulsion module is 1200Ns, the power is 1 to 10W, and the weight is 400g.