SBIR/STTR Research Award
Micro PPT Optomization and Development II
Award amount
$0Program and phase
SBIR · Phase IAward year
2001Award details
- Awarding agency
- Department of Defense
- Branch
- Air Force
- Recipient company
- W. E. RESEARCH LLC
- Proposal award date
- Not reported
- Contract end date
- Not reported
- UEI
- Not reported
- Solicitation number
- Not reported
- Topic code
- Not reported
Research abstract
The objective of this proposal is to develop a micro pulsed plasma thruster (micro-PPT), or even a family of micro-PPTs, with substantially reduced system mass. Secondary objectives are higher thrust, improved propellant efficiencies, and scalabilityacross a wider range of operating energies, compared to current PPT designs. PPTs operating at pulse energies of 10-20 Joules have been used for small spacecraft propulsion for several decades, but due to extremely low thrust and propulsive inefficiencyhave been used only where the simplicity of their solid-state design outweighs all other concerns. Recent work has demonstrated the requirement for an improved PPT system massing less than 800 grams for the first of these proposed missions, TechSat 21
Technology keywords
Not reported