Pulsed Plasmoid Propulsion System for Agile and Resilient Spacecraft

Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc. (EHT) with its subcontractor, the University of Michigan (UM), proposes to develop a highly-versatile form of electric thruster based on pulsed plasmoids, field-reversed configurations (FRC) produced by a rotating magnetic field (RMF). The effort brings together EHT experience of developing high power solid-state power systems for driving plasma loads with the RMF-FRC thruster and testing capabilities at UM. Together we propose a program to build out a RMF-FRC thruster that can be tested on a thrust stand. This thruster will be evaluated over a range of operating conditions that meet both the low-thrust/high-specific impulse and high-thrust/low-specific impulse of interest to the Air Force.