Successful Flight Demonstration of Plasma Thruster Under Microgravity
Source: Space Daily
February 27, 2001
Tokyo - A group of Japanese rocket scientists led by Dr.
Satori from the Advanced Technology Institute Ltd. and Hokkaido
Institute Technology have successfully demonstrated the flight of a
miniature plasma thruster in a simulated space environment.
This successful experiment was able to show that its
thrust was generated effectively in the mechanism of a miniature
plasma thruster.
Mr. Mae, Mr. Okamoto and Mr. Sugiki (Astro Research
Corporation), Dr. Satori, a few students (Hokkaido Institute of
Technology) implemented this flight performance in Japan Microgravity
Center (JAMIC), Kamisunagawa in Hokkaido.
This demonstration was funded by Japan's New Enegry
Development Organization as a part of the project, "Flight model
development of small Microwave Engine for satellite attitude control".
Microwave Engine is one of several engines for small
satellites, called electric propulsion. Its unique feature is a much
simpler configuration compared to traditional electric Ion propulsion
systems.
The plasma thruster used in this demonstration utilized
the same thrust generating mechanism as Microwave Engine, thus the
flight demonstration under microgravity conditions generated by free
falling validated its operational performance. The current project
aims to complete the development of a Microwave Engine by March 2001.
In general, electric Ion propulsion has a much higher
performance than chemical propulsion systems in propellant efficiency.
However, its big difference from the conventional rocket engine in the
mechanism made the usefulness of the electric propulsion ambiguous
because of the small thrust generated by the electric propulsion.
This successful experiment is said to be the first
flight demonstration of a plasma thruster.
Lately, space development has focused on large
satellites such as GEO broadcasting and communication satellites, and
on small satellite constellations in LEO orbits to support mobile
communication networks. In Japan, research is being undertaken to
build a new-generation of multifunction micro satellites that would
have a far greater degree of redunancy compared to large satellites.
However, in LEO orbits atmospheric drag is so large that
small electric IOn propulsion is a critical technology to maintain
orbital positions and prolong satellite operating life times.
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/japan-tech-01a.html