Abstract
This chapter discusses the current status of chemical and cold gas micro-propulsion systems for small satellites, with a particular focus on CubeSats. Initially, a short historical background is presented, focusing specifically on the precursor cold gas systems developed and demonstrated on small spacecraft in the decade 2000-10. A brief overview of the principle of operation of systems based on the thermodynamic expansion of a gas in a nozzle is then provided, including the simplified equations for characterizing their performance based on the one-dimensional, isentropic Ideal Rocket Theory. In particular, the specific technical challenges associated with the miniaturization of this class of propulsion systems are highlighted and shortly explained. The current state-of-the-art available commercial-off-the-shelf chemical and cold gas micro-propulsion systems is then described in detail, including comparative tables with their main design characteristics and performance parameters. Based on these tables, performance charts are presented that define a range of possible applications of this class of micro-propulsion systems to small satellite missions and tasks. Finally, some of the future expectations in the development of these systems are briefly discussed.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Next Generation CubeSats and SmallSats |
Subtitle of host publication | Enabling Technologies, Missions, and Markets |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Pages | 421-445 |
Number of pages | 25 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780128245415 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780128245422 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-careOtherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.
Keywords
- chemical propulsion
- cold gas propulsion
- CubeSat propulsion systems
- Micro-propulsion