Bremen 2017 – scientific programme

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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik

P 4: Plasma Technology

P 4.6: Talk

Monday, March 13, 2017, 15:30–15:45, HS 2010

The milli-Newton µHEMPT as Potential Main Thruster for Small Satellites — •Max Vaupel^1,2, Franz Georg Hey¹, Alexander Sell¹, Karlheinz Eckert¹, Tim Brandt^3,4,5, Claus Braxmaier^3,4, Martin Tajmar², Dennis Weise¹, and Ulrich Johann¹ — ¹Airbus Defence and Space, Germany — ²Technische Universität Dresden, Germany — ³DLR, Institute of Space Systems, Germany — ⁴Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity, University of Bremen, Germany — ⁵Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, University of Kiel, Germany

In the last years, small satellites become more important due to the continuing miniaturisation of key technology. Due to the constraining mass requirements of small satellites, electric propulsion with its high propellant-to-thrust ratio offers several advantages. Airbus DS in Friedrichshafen performs a downscaling of the HEMPT principle to the micro-Newton regime and additionally developed a mN-µHEMPT which can be operated towards 10 mN. The mN-µHEMPT performance was characterised by direct thrust measurement as well as an indirect thrust measurement using a retarding potential analyser and Faraday cup at the AirbusDS test facility.