Review of Worldwide Activities in Liquid-Fed Pulsed Plasma Thruster

摘要

Pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) are extensively recognized as one of the most promising electric space propulsion systems to perform propulsive tasks on micro- and nanosatellites, including cubesats, because they offer many advantages compared with other electric space propulsion systems. Further, they can be applied as attitude and orbit control subsystem thruster or even main propulsion on small satellites for scientific or commercial use. The merits of such an application are simplicity, small size and low mass, low power requirements, zero standby power, high reliability, variable thrust level, discreet impulse bits compatible with digital logic, performance compatible with attitude control and station-keeping requirements, operation at large variations in environmental temperature, and thrust vector control capability. PPTs also show some advantages over most other electric propulsion systems, such as a flexible power consumption, low operational risk, low development cost, no need for neutralizer, and the possibility to achieve high I_(sp) even at low energy levels. Also, PPT technology can be used in terrestrial applications (e.g., surface treatment).