Gas-Liquid Equilibrium Thruster of IKAROS

Abstract

IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation of the Sun) was injected into the Venus transfer orbit by H-IIA rocket together with AKATSUKI on 21st May 2010. IKAROS has newly developed Reaction Control System called Gas-Liquid Equilibrium thruster. Gas-Liquid Equilibrium thruster loads propellant as liquid state and eject as gas state. Gas-Liquid equilibrium thruster is the thruster system suited for small spacecraft because of its easy handling depending on the non-toxic and non-inflammable propellant, which has relatively low pressure. This paper shows the development and operation result that this new thruster system work on good conditions at interplanetary trajectory compared to the prospect of performance.