DIRECT THRUST MEASUREMENT OF THE ENPULSION NANO R3 PROPULSION SYSTEM ON FOTEC’S THRUST TEST STAND – 13 May 2022

Authors: Bernhard Seifert, Werner Engel, Joachim Gerger, Quirin Koch, Tony Schönherr, David Krejci

Published On: 9 – 13 May 2022

Event: 8th Space Propulsion Conference Estoril, Portugal

Abstract

In 2021 FOTEC performed a direct thrust measurement campaign of the ENPULSION NANO R3 micro-propulsion system. In recent years FOTEC has developed their thrust test stand suitable for measurements from the sub-μN up to 100 mN range without modification of the setup. The force actuators providing force-feedback and a test force were calibrated before the test campaign. The ENPULSION NANO R3 with integrated PPU was mounted on the thrust balance and supplied via liquid-metal based feedthroughs. After burn-in, different thrust points and profiles were applied by digitally commanding the propulsion system like in a spacecraft. The thruster parameters and the thrust balance telemetry were recorded, and the thrust values were compared to the mathematical model. To minimize any chamber-induced effects, FOTEC’s largest vacuum facility (ca. 14 m3) was used for this campaign. This paper shows the test setup and presents the results acquired within this campaign.

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