System Performance of a Microwave Discharge Miniature Ion Thruster

Abstract

This study evaluates the system performances of a 10-W-class miniature ion thruster designed for 50kg small spacecraft. The miniature ion thruster used here, using microwave discharge, was specially designed for low microwave power operation, as low as 1.0W. Thruster performance of this thruster (ion beam current, required microwave power, and required gas flow rate) was measured by the experiments. This experiment included a neutralizer and power and gas needed for its operation. Specifications of sub-components needed for a miniature ion thruster system was estimated based on commercially available or space qualified products. As a result, performance of the miniature ion thruster system was evaluated using those thruster performance and sub-component specifications. One of the results is that the miniature ion thruster system can generate 297μN thrust with 1100s specific impulse and ΔV of 300m/s for 50kg spacecraft by 15.6W total power consumption and 2.7–3.5kg total wet weight of the system.