Lab-on-PCB solid propellant microthruster with multi-mode thrust capabilities.

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Growing demand for microthrusters in nano/microsatellite clustering.
• Existing solid propellant microthrusters face challenges in thrust consistency, scalability, and durability.
• Limitations of traditional MEMS-based microthruster fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and develop a novel shared-chamber solid-propellant microthruster design.
• To address issues of inconsistent thrust, limited modes, and production challenges.
• To leverage lab-on-printed-circuit-board (PCB) technology for enhanced microthruster fabrication.

Main Methods:

• Design and fabrication of a shared-chamber microthruster using lab-on-PCB and PCB surface mount technology.
• Implementation of ignition and combustion experiments to verify unit operation.
• Evaluation of different operational modes, including power and continuous thrust.

Main Results:

• Consistent thrust generation at a designated position.
• Successful accommodation of multiple thrust modes (power and continuous).
• Demonstrated enhanced structural stability, scalability, and potential for mass production via PCB technology.

Conclusions:

• The lab-on-PCB-based shared-chamber solid propellant microthruster offers a viable solution for satellite propulsion.
• The design overcomes limitations of existing microthrusters, providing improved performance and manufacturability.
• Integration with propulsion and electronic control systems shows significant potential for future satellite missions.