Design And Test Of A Coaxial Micro-Pulsed Plasma Thruster

Micro-satellites will be widely used in the fields of communication, remote sense and so on, with their properties of low volume and weight, low cost and easy-control. Precision controls of primary propulsion, orbit control, high precision attitude control and stationkeeping on micro-satellites are required, which appeals for more advanced in orbit propulsion technologies, with low volume and weight, high Isp. A coaxial Micro-Pulsed plasma thruster (Micro-PPT) improved from the standard Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT) is drawing attention by its advanced properties of low volume, high Isp, high efficiency and stabilization. A coaxial Micro-PPT using solid inert propellant Teflon has been made in Center for Space Science and Applied Research (CSSAR), Chinese Academy of Sciences. The work part of the Micro-PPT is less than 200g, and less than 5mm in diameter. High Isp and high efficiency are acquired because of the efficient coaxial discharge characteristic and higher discharge voltage than the standard PPT. The semiconductor ignition plug in standard PPT is eliminated.The measurement of the discharge properties of the Micro-PPT is carried out under different conditions.