Session
Session VIII: Advanced Concepts II
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
Since the advent of CubeSats, the demand to push mission capabilities of the form-factor has steadily increased. Propulsion systems are one of the driving factors pushing CubeSats towards increasingly complex missions. One propulsion device, an electrothermal plasma thruster known as Pocket Rocket strikes a balance between performance and cost efficiency, in line with the spirit of the CubeSat standard. The thruster has previously been integrated and tested within a 1U CubeSat form factor. However, while functional, the design lacked sufficient propellant storage capability for most missions. To increase propellant storage capability, a 1U CubeSat form factor where the structure itself is a pressure vessel is developed. The Pocket Rocket thruster is embedded into the structure, with batteries, power processing unit (PPU), and propellant regulation and delivery system contained within the pressure vessel. Containing electronic components inside the pressure vessel assists with radiation and thermal protection systems. When used as part of a generic 3U CubeSat mission, the pressurized 1U form factor is capable of producing between 5 and 50 m/s of Δv.
Pressurized 1U CubeSat Propulsion System
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Since the advent of CubeSats, the demand to push mission capabilities of the form-factor has steadily increased. Propulsion systems are one of the driving factors pushing CubeSats towards increasingly complex missions. One propulsion device, an electrothermal plasma thruster known as Pocket Rocket strikes a balance between performance and cost efficiency, in line with the spirit of the CubeSat standard. The thruster has previously been integrated and tested within a 1U CubeSat form factor. However, while functional, the design lacked sufficient propellant storage capability for most missions. To increase propellant storage capability, a 1U CubeSat form factor where the structure itself is a pressure vessel is developed. The Pocket Rocket thruster is embedded into the structure, with batteries, power processing unit (PPU), and propellant regulation and delivery system contained within the pressure vessel. Containing electronic components inside the pressure vessel assists with radiation and thermal protection systems. When used as part of a generic 3U CubeSat mission, the pressurized 1U form factor is capable of producing between 5 and 50 m/s of Δv.
