Design, Fabrication, and Test of a Microelectromechanical-System-Based Millinewton-Level Hydrazine Thruster

摘要

THE miniaturization of space systems, such as microsatellites,nhas become an important development trend. Using a cluster ofnmicrospacecraft with a constellational architecture to replace antraditional spacecraft can greatly reduce the costs of production andnlaunch, increase flexibility, and disperse the risks of a mission.nMiniaturized spacecraft are classified based on mass, power, andndimensions. Spacecraft with a mass of less than 20 kg are classified asnclass I microspacecraft [1] and require millinewton-level thrusts fornspacecraft control. For microspacecraft, the onboard thrusters mustnbe extremely small and lightweight; microelectromechanicalnsystems (MEMS) are thus employed in microthruster design andnfabrication [2].