JPL Micro-Thrust Propulsion Activities

Formation flying and microspacecraft constellation missions pose new propulsion requirements. Formation flying spacecraft, due to the tight positioning and pointing control requirements, may need thrust control within 1-20 µN to an accuracy of 0.1 µN for LISA and ST-7, for example. Future missions may have extended thrust ranges into the sub - mN range. However, all do require high specific impulses (> 500 sec) due to long required thruster firings. Microspacecraft may need higher thrust levels into the sub - to low mN range, but may require small impulse bits well into the µNs range depending on mission, and need to be sufficiently miniaturized. At JPL, a variety of micro-thrust propulsion activities are being undertaken to address the various mission needs. These include evaluation of Indium FEEP and colloid thrusters for LISA and sT-7, miniature ion engine development, test support for vacuum are thruster performance measurements, novel micro-colloid thruster development, MEMS-based highly integrated micropropulsion systems for microspacecraft, as well as component development, such as microvalves and field emitter arrays for beam neutralization.