High-Side High-Voltage, Low-Current, and Temperature Sensor with Digital Interface for Electrospray Thrusters Monitoring

Recent advancements in electric propulsion have revolutionized related industries. Electrospray thrusters offer an alternative to traditional systems, potentially enabling wide adoption in small satellites due to electronics miniaturization. Electrospray thruster thrust correlates directly with emitted current. Maintaining a constant current by adjusting voltage ensures consistent thrust, underscoring the importance of monitoring thruster behavior. Furthermore, the sensor architecture can be configured to measure either the positive or negative rail with only changes to the wiring, requiring no additional modifications. This paper introduces a high-side sensor for kilovolt, microamp, and temperature measurements with a digital interface. Designed with automotive-grade components, it underwent a 7-hour validation test with electrospray thrusters.