Home > Knowledge Base Authors: Quirin Koch, Tony Schönherr, David Krejci, Nina Mühlich, Bernhard Seifert Published On: June 19-23, 2022 Event: 37th International Electric Propulsion Conference – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA, IEPC-2022-201 Download PDF Abstract The ENPULSION NANO AR3 thruster is a liquid metal Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) thruster with thrust vectoring capability without moving parts. It was recently developed in close cooperation between ENPULSION and FOTEC. The thruster is based on the significant flight heritage of the ENPUSLION NANO thruster, generating thrust by electrostatically extracting and accelerating Indium ions from Taylor cones established on the needle tips of a porous, crown-shaped emitter suspended with liquified Indium as propellant. In the NANO AR3, a segmented counter-electrode is used to apply differential electric potentials, resulting in varying electric fields in different regions of the ion emitter, which allows to perform relative throttling of the ion current emitted at different regions of the ion current. As the total thrust generated by the emitter is a superposition of the individual beamlets, this differential throttling of different regions of the ring-shaped ion emitter allows for effectively control the thrust vector of the thruster system. The NANO AR3 is a fully packaged propulsion system including propellant tank and power electronics to achieve the required high voltages and control thereof, providing 350uN at variable specific impulse and a maximum power draw of 45W. An algorithm to translate commanded thrust vector offset angles to the applied high voltage potentials of the emitter and different extractor sections is autonomously controlling the system to achieve the commanded thrust level and vectoring angles. This paper describes beam diagnostics measurements performed at FOTEC using their FEEP ion beam diagnostics facility in LIFET-4. The diagnostics system consists of a remotely controlled semi-circular rotating arm equipped with 23 Faraday cups. These are used to measure the spatial ion current density distribution of the thruster beam. The specially designed digital Faraday cups feature adjacent electronics to reduce strongly reduce signal noise. The paper will provide a description of the ion beam diagnostics system used, as well as the thruster assembled in the test setup. DOWNLOAD PDF Thank you for your interest in ENPULSION’s products and services! As a global market leader in electric propulsion for nano- and microsatellites, we offer you a broad range of fully integrated electric propulsion systems, as well as simulator and emulator products, and support and services to guide you from first conceptual steps to spacecraft design, integration, launch-preparation, as well as commissioning and operations, all the way to end-of life de-orbiting of your spacecraft – our expert teams are always at your side. Exclusive ENPULSION data-room If you are interested to gain access to the next layer of technical information and in-depth knowledge of our products and technology, please contact us. In the ENPULSION data-room you can find product-specific user manuals, in-depth technical guides and applicable documents, containing valuable information on handling and shipping requirements, as well as everything you need to know to get the best performance and utility out of your ENPULSION products.
