Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) have demonstrated in-orbit the use of a steam propulsion system onboard the UK-DMC satellite, launched on 27th September 2003.
The novel micro-propulsion experiment used 2.06 grams of water as propellant. This ‘green’ propellant is non-toxic, non-hazardous to ground operators and results in improved specific impulse over conventional cold gas nitrogen, at a significantly lower cost.
During the first in-orbit firing, the thruster was pre-heated to 200 degrees. Pre-heating ensures that no liquid phase water is ejected, only steam. The spacecraft experienced 3.3 milliNewtons of thrust over a 30 second period.
Designed and built in-house at SSTL, the miniature resistojet, weighing 13 grams, uses just 3 Watts of power to heat the propellant, emitting steam through a conventional rocket nozzle to generate thrust. The hotter the propellant, the higher specific impulse performance achieved.
The thruster is mounted in such a way that it produces a yaw torque around the spacecrafts gravity gradient boom. After the firing, the spacecrafts Attitude Control System detected a yaw disturbance of 55 degrees. The yaw disturbance was corrected by actuating the yaw reaction wheel and the change in speed of the wheel enabled the thruster’s firing parameters to be calculated.
The experiment has demonstrated that:
Audrey Nice | Source: alphagalileo
More articles from Power and Electrical Engineering:
Researchers show applied electric field can significantly improve hydrogen storage properties
03.02.2010 | Virginia Commonwealth University
Natural gas supplies could be augmented with methane hydrate
29.01.2010 | National Academy of Sciences
08.02.2010 | Studies and Analyses
Princeton scientist makes a leap in quantum computing
08.02.2010 | Information Technology
Sweet! -- sugar plays key role in cell division
08.02.2010 | Life Sciences
Asia-Pacific Symposium on Information and Telecommunication Technologies 2010 (APSITT 2010)
04.02.2010 | Event News
The Engineering Conference (EnCon 2010)
04.02.2010 | Event News
Homeland Security Science and Technology University Network Summit
01.02.2010 | Event News