Hello, Perhaps my recent work may stimulate discussion in this thread, though it has not been proven in Space yet, but ...
my George Washington University MAE dept. micropropulsion subsystems for small spacecraft was highlighted in the September 3 issue of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences newsletter. If you have the time, please see the following web video that shows the first ever firing of three simultaneous microthrusters. These subsystems were developed under Dr. Michael Keidar, and are products of the GWU Micro-Propulsion and Nanotechnology Lab. It should play well in all web browsers, PC, Mac or Mobile.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzYYl-b0DOFWZ1U0RFBYdU93NW8/edit?usp=sharing
Thrust range is 1-50 uNs (impulse-bits, variable, programmable) per channel. Different clustering/arraying/firing sequences possible. Available 2013. Looking for a ride to Space for qualification to higher TRL. We are at TRL5+ now.
73 de Samudra/N3RDX
newsletter excerpt:
*The Micro-propulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MpNL),* led by* Prof. Michael Keidar (MAE), *participated in the 27th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, held August 10-15 in Logan, UT. *MAE doctoral student Samudra Haque p*resented dual operational prototype hardware examples of his research focus,* “Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster (µCAT) Subsystem for In-space Propulsion of Small Satellites,” *and explained to audiences its applicability for space missions and its technology readiness level for testing in the 2013 GWU/NASA Ames Research Center investigative project, “Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster PhoneSat Experiment.”
*Micro-propulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MpNL) *students have successfully completed, for the first time ever, a full integration and testing of a prototype 3-channel Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster (µCAT) subsystem at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). This was specifically engineered for the ARC Center Innovation Fund 2013 award project, “Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster PhoneSat Experiment.” The project was intended to explore the viability of enabling the innovative Google Nexus SmartPhone-powered series of small spacecraft to have full attitude and orbit correction capabilities. Three of these spacecraft were flown and operated in space in April 2013 onboard the Antares launcher by Orbital Sciences from Wallops Flight Facility, VA.
On Fri, May 3, 2013 at 1:56 PM, M5AKA m5aka@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
Can't remember if the links on the work of N1BCD were posted earlier:
Video of presentation at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/22959312/highlight/267762
Slides
http://icubesat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/icubesat-org-2012-c-1-1-_present...
IARU Coordination http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php?serialnum=305
73 Trevor M5AKA
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