Characterization of the TILE Electrospray Emitters
Elaine Petro, Amelia Bruno, Paulo Lozano, Louis Perna, Dakota Freeman
Abstract
Accion Systems' TILE electrospray thrusters, a microfabricated propulsion system for small satellites, has been characterized at the MIT Space Propulsion Laboratory. A suite of diagnostic instruments including a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and a retarding potential analyzer are used to estimate the thrust, specific impulse, and efficiency of an individual emitter chip from measured beam properties of two test articles. These results are combined and analyzed to predict overall performance for the thruster chip device at several operating points
Topics & Concepts
TilePropulsionChipElectrosprayAerospace engineeringCommon emitterSpacecraftSpecific impulseImpulse (physics)Electrically powered spacecraft propulsionMaterials scienceMass spectrometryEngineeringPhysicsOptoelectronicsElectrical engineeringQuantum mechanicsComposite materialElectrohydrodynamics and Fluid DynamicsPlasma Diagnostics and ApplicationsMass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications