Performance Characteristics Design of Pulsed Plasma Thrusters for Drag Counter-Reacting

Dakka, Sam

Abstract

Determining the performance characteristics of off the shelf pulsed plasma thrusters to enhance the life time of low earth orbiting platforms was investigated theoretically. Pulsed plasma thruster analysis was accomplished through development of correlations from historical data that distinguished between breech fed propellant to side fed propellant designs. Based on semi-empirical equations the power required by the thruster to counter react the drag was estimated and mapped for 1U to 27U CubeSat configurations for altitude ranging between 200km to 600km. It appears that the power required is dependent on the feeding delivery system design. For side fed designs the power required to counter react the drag is 30.03% lower as compared with breech fed pulsed plasma thrusters designs. The methodologies and analysis implemented can shorten the spacecraft preliminary design phase and reduce the time and cost associated with development of spacecraft missions

Citation

Dakka, S. (2020). Performance Characteristics Design of Pulsed Plasma Thrusters for Drag Counter-Reacting. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 7(4), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2020.1530

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 16, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 19, 2020
• Publication Date: Oct 19, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jan 15, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 19, 2021
• Journal: International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace
• Electronic ISSN: 2374-6793
• Publisher: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2020.1530
• Keywords: Space Propulsion, Pulsed Plasma Thrusters, Drag Counter reacting, Thrust
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5229061
• Publisher URL: https://commons.erau.edu/ijaaa/vol7/iss4/1