High Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP): A Flight-Proven Capability and Cost Game-Changer for Small and Secondary Satellites

摘要

In recent years, the capabilities (and as a result, the wider acceptance) of small satellites has increased tremendously.This has been primarily due to advances in payload technologies, which have allowed sensor components to betteroperate within the volume and power constraints imposed by smaller platforms. However, in order for smallsatellites to provide a truly viable alternative to a greater number of missions and customers, the platformsthemselves must begin offering increased capabilities – more on par with those of larger satellites. An importantarea where the capability of small satellites has continued to lag significantly behind their larger cousins ispropulsion. The reasons for this are many, including: platform mass and volume limitations, personnel safetyconcerns, hazard limitations of existing integration facilities, costs associated with propellant transportation andlaunch site processing, or “blanket restrictions” imposed on secondary/rideshare satellites (due to concerns regardingpossible adverse impacts to the primary satellite). But regardless of the specific reasons applicable to any individualmission, the resulting capability limitation is the same: small satellites are usually “stuck” in the orbit they areinitially injected into; which adversely affects their scientific utility and can make them a non-option for manycustomers.High Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP) provides a flight-proven solution to each of the many concerns whichtypically preclude the inclusion of a liquid propulsion system on small satellite missions. Additionally, the manybenefits of HPGP provide a game-changing capability increase for small satellites; thus allowing them to furtherclose the gap with larger platforms. This paper will: 1) provide a PRISMA mission overview and short “2 yearupdate” of the on-orbit HPGP data, 2) delve into the details of each of the issues identified above, and 3) provideexamples of the capability increases and cost savings able to be achieved through the implementation of variousHPGP hardware solutions on small satellite platforms.