A proposed on-orbit demonstration of an advanced pulsed-plasma thruster for small satellite applications

The USAF AFRL Electric Propulsion Group is developing an advanced pulsed-plasma thruster (PPT) technology demonstration for small satellites. The initial flight opportunity was on MightySat II.2-a satellite bus specifically designed to advance AFRL-developed technologies and serve as a risk reduction mission for systems required for TechSat 21. This experiment will demonstrate a high performance PPT, making it a viable thruster for various applications such as orbit raising and initiating and maintaining clusters of small satellites. The experiment will also be the first flight of a new micro-propulsion thruster-a miniaturized version of the PPT, known as the micro-PPT (/spl mu/-PPT). The /spl mu/-PPT is ideal for very precise attitude control and pointing, formation flying, and for primary propulsion on micro-satellites. A novel on-board diagnostic package will be used to assess the contamination of optical and thermal control surfaces as a result of firing the PPTs. Ground-based observations will also be conducted to assess the on-orbit performance and possible communication impacts of the thruster firings.