Design of a Microwave ElectroMagneto-Static (MEMS) Thruster for Nanosatellites

Research Support Instruments, Inc., with the aid of the Princeton University Photonics and Optoelectronic Materials (POEM) group and the Florida Space Institute (FSI), proposes the development of a revolutionary, high specific impulse, microchip-sizedthruster for nanosatellite propulsion. This project will combine recent advances in two areas: larger-sized Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) ion sources developed for ion propulsion (Satori et. al 1996), and a microchip-sized microwave plasmagenerator (Siebert et. al., 1998). The result will be the Microwave ElectroMagneto-Static (MEMS) thruster, an ECRH-ionized electrostatic thruster with a specific impulse appropriate for a xenon-based ion thruster (~2000 seconds). In addition, the MEMSthruster technology will be immediately applicable as an extremely compact electron source for neutralization in other microthrusters such as the micro-ion, micro-Hall, and FEEP thrusters.FSI will develop new sub-micron models and scaling laws for microwave ionization, ECRH heating, and electrostatic acceleration. RSI will design and fabricate a laboratory model of the MEMS thruster/neutralizer at the POEM Micro-Fabrication Laboratories.An array of MEMS thrusters will provide high specific impulse thruster in microchip form. The development of the MEMS thruster will take advantage of an open, underdeveloped market - compact thruster neutralization - to provide immediate commercial application while development and validation of the actual thruster continues. The MEMSthruster represents a unique opportunity to satisfy the need for high specific impulse micro-machined thrusters onboard nanosatellites, as well as a commercially attractive need for compact neutralization in a variety of existing microthrusters.