Session
Technical Session VI: Next on the Pad
Abstract
In this study, the micropropulsion system I-COUPS (Ion Thruster and COld-gas Thruster Unified Propulsion System) is proposed for 50-kg-class spacecraft to explore the deep space. The I-COUPS is a unified propulsion system of ion thrusters and cold-gas thrusters by sharing the same xenon gas system. It provides the spacecraft with high ΔV maneuver, high thrust, short time maneuver, and reaction control by eight thrusters. The total wet mass of the propulsion system is expected to 9.5 kg with 2.5 kg xenon. The ion thruster has thrust of 300 μN and specific impulse of 1000 s by 35 W power consumption, and the cold-gas thruster has thrust of 30 mN and specific impulse of 24 s by 8 W power. Up to date, structural and thermal model of the I-COUPS finished the developments and environmental tests successfully, and its flight model is under developments and operations. The I-COUPS intended to be installed on the 70 kg spacecraft PROCYON, small space spacecraft to explore near-Earth asteroids by using a micropropulsion system. Its launch is scheduled at the end of 2014 as a small secondary payload by an H-IIA launch vehicle.
Unified Propulsion System to Explore Near-Earth Asteroids by a 50 kg Spacecraft
In this study, the micropropulsion system I-COUPS (Ion Thruster and COld-gas Thruster Unified Propulsion System) is proposed for 50-kg-class spacecraft to explore the deep space. The I-COUPS is a unified propulsion system of ion thrusters and cold-gas thrusters by sharing the same xenon gas system. It provides the spacecraft with high ΔV maneuver, high thrust, short time maneuver, and reaction control by eight thrusters. The total wet mass of the propulsion system is expected to 9.5 kg with 2.5 kg xenon. The ion thruster has thrust of 300 μN and specific impulse of 1000 s by 35 W power consumption, and the cold-gas thruster has thrust of 30 mN and specific impulse of 24 s by 8 W power. Up to date, structural and thermal model of the I-COUPS finished the developments and environmental tests successfully, and its flight model is under developments and operations. The I-COUPS intended to be installed on the 70 kg spacecraft PROCYON, small space spacecraft to explore near-Earth asteroids by using a micropropulsion system. Its launch is scheduled at the end of 2014 as a small secondary payload by an H-IIA launch vehicle.
