Power Conditioning Unit for Russian Stationary Plasma Thruster

A Russian designed Stationary Plasma Thruster (SPT) has demonstrated 1600 second specific impulse, 50% efficiency, 3500 hours and 3000 start/stop cycle of space operation. This performance has recently been confirmed by a US scientific team. The Russian has flown more than 50 of the SPT thrusters. Recently, this technology is available to the US users. Despite the advancement of the thruster design, Russian electronics are trailing behind the west, especially the American electronic technology. The Russian designed Power Conditioning Unit for the SPT is not likely to meet the US expectations and space hardware qualification. Furthermore, the Russian flight PCU weighs over 30kg, three times the US targeted weight. Space Power Inc will use the rugged MOSFET with fast intrinsic diode, high frequency switching, and proprietary low mass, high efficiency PCU design expertise to develop a PCU for the SPT that will weigh less than 10 kg and has over 90% efficiency.