• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

To develop technologies for the stable operation of electric propulsion systems, the exhaust plume behavior of electric thrusters was studied using PIC-DSMC(particle-in-cell and direct simulation Monte Carlo). For the numerical analysis, the Simple Electron Fluid Model using Boltzmann relation was employed, and the charge and momentum exchanges due to atom-ion collisions were considered. The results of this study agreed with the plasma potentials measured experimentally. Near the thruster exit, active collisions among particles and charge exchanges created slow ions and fast atoms, which were expected to significantly affect the trajectory and velocity of the thruster exhaust plume.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.298-302
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• 2009

Low power Hall thruster is under development as one of the core technologies for STSAT-3. The Hall thruster has several advantages such as its simple structure, high thrust density and specific impulse etc. Development target values deduced by analyzing requirements are consumed electrical power, thrust, thrust efficiency, and specific impulse of < 300 W, > 10 mN, ~ 35%, and > 1000 s, respectively. In order to achieve the target specifications, two prototype Hall thrusters were developed and compared. To date, thrust and efficiency are 11 mN and 37% under the total power of 290 W with 0.97 mg/s Xe propellent supply.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.46.1-46.1
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.251-256
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• 2004

A concept in which laser-sustained plasmas (LSPs) are combined with inductively coupled plasmas (ICPs) is proposed. The concept is aiming at extensions of operative conditions of a CW laser thruster due to the fact that the ICP has some characteristics which are in contrast to those of LSPs. An estimation confirmed that the concept would effectively work. And a fundamental experiment was conducted. The results showed that the radio frequency magnetic field induced by a alternate current of 13.56 MHz coupled inductively with LSPs, resulting in the enlargement of the plasma region and the attainment of the enthalpy. It is expected that some improvements will enable to transfer the RF power to the work gas more effectively and to demonstrate the synergy effect between the LSPs and the ICPs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.216-216
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• 1999

The usage of a stationary plasma thruster (SPT) ion source, invented previously for space application in Russia, in experiments with surface modifications and film deposition systems is reported here. Plasma in the SPT is formed and accelerated in electric discharge taking place in the crossed axial electric and radial magnetic fields. Brief description of the construction of specific model of SPT used in the experiments is presented. With gas flow rate 39ml/min, ion current distributions at several distances from the source are obtained. These was equal to 1~3 mA/$\textrm{cm}^2$ within an ion beam ejection angle of $\pm$20$^{\circ}$with discharge voltage 160V for Ar as a working gas. Such an extremely high ion current density allows us to obtain the Ti metal films with deposition rate of $\AA$/sec by sputtering of Ti target. It is shown a possibility of using of reactive gases in SPT (O2 and N2) along with high purity inert gases used for cathode to prevent the latter contamination. It is shown the SPT can be operated at the discharge and accelerating boltages up to 600V. The results of presented experiments show high promises of the SPT in sputtering and surface modification systems for deposition of oxide thin films on Si or polymer substrates for semiconductor devices, optical coatings and metal corrosion barrier layers. Also, we have been tried to establish in application of the modeling expertise gained in electric and ionic propulsion to permit numerical simulation of additional processing systems. In this mechanism, it will be compared with conventional DC sputtering for film microstructure, chemical composition and crystallographic considerations.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.195-215
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• 2022

The increasing interest in CubeSat platforms ant their capability of enlarging the frontier of possible missions impose technology improvements. Miniaturized electrical propulsion (EP) systems enable new mission for multi-unit CubeSats (6U+). While electric propulsion systems have achieved important level of knowledge at equipment level, the investigation of the mutual impact between EP system and CubeSat technology at system level can provide a decisive improvement for both the technologies. The interaction between CubeSat and EP system should be assessed in terms of electromagnetic emissions (both radiated and conducted), thermal gradients, high electrical power management, surface chemical deposition, and quick and reliable data exchanges. This paper shows how a versatile CubeSat Test Platform (CTP), together with standardized procedures and specialized facilities enable the acquisition fundamental and unprecedented information. Measurements can be taken both by specific ground support equipment placed inside the vacuum facility and by dedicated sensors and subsystems installed on the CTP, providing a completely new set of data never obtained before. CTP is constituted of a 6U primary structure hosting the EP system, representative CubeSat avionics and batteries. For the first test campaign, CTP hosts the ambipolar plasma propulsion system, called Regulus and developed by T4I. After the integration and the functional test in laboratory environment, CTP + Regulus performed a Test campaign in relevant environment in the vacuum chamber at CISAS, University of Padua. This paper is focused on the test campaign description and the main results achieved at different power levels for different duration of the firings.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.327-334
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• 2004

Spectroscopic and electrostatic probe measurements were made to examine plasma characteristics with or without a metal plate for a 10-㎾-class direct-current arcjet Heat fluxes into the plate from the plasma were also evaluated with a Nickel slug and thermocouple arrangement. Ammonia and mixtures of nitrogen and hydrogen were used. The NH$_3$ and $N_2$+3H$_2$ plasmas in the nozzle and in the downstream plume without a plate were in thermodynamical nonequilibrium states. As a result, the H-atom electronic excitation temperature and the $N_2$ molecule-rotational excitation temperature intensively decreased downstream in the nozzle although the NH molecule-rotational excitation temperature did not show an axial decrease. Each temperature was kept in a small range in the plume without a plate except for the NH rotational temperature for NH$_3$ gas. On the other hand, as approaching the plate, the thermodynamical nonequilibrium plasma came to be a temperature-equilibrium one because the plasma flow tended to stagnate in front of the plate. The electron temperature had a small radial variation near the plate. Both the electron number density and the heat flux decreased radially outward, and an increase in H$_2$ mole fraction raised them at a constant radial position. In cases with NH$_3$ and $N_2$+3H$_2$ a large number of NH radical with a radially wide distribution was considered to cause a large amount of energy loss, i.e., frozen flow loss, for arcjet thrusters.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.61-61
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• 2004

과학기술위성 1호(STSAT-1)는 위성의 자세를 제어하기 위하여 Reaction Wheel Assembly(RWA)를 적용하였으며, 위성의 무게중심에 Wheel의 회전수에 비례하는 관성모멘트를 발생시켜 자세를 제어하였다. 과학기술위성 2호(STSAT-2)는 과학기술위성 1호에 적용하였던 반작용휠(RWA)과 펄스형태로 동작시켜 위성의 자세 및 궤도제어를 위하여 요구하는 추력을 얻을 수 있는 펄스형 전기 추진시스템(Pulsed Plasma Thruster: PPT)이 탑재된다. (중략)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.271-277
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• 2004

As one of the concepts of the laser/electric hybrid propulsion system, a feasibility study on possibilities of electrostatic acceleration of a laser ablation plasma induced from a solid target was conducted. Energy distributions of accelerated ions were measured by a Faraday cup. A time-of-flight measurement was also conducted for ion velocity measurement. It was found that an average speed of ions from a pure laser ablation in this case was about 20 km/sec for pulse energy of 40 $\mu$J/pulse with pulse width of 250 psec. On the other hand, through an electrostatic field with a + I ,000 V electrode, the speed could be accelerated up to 40 km/sec. It was shown that the electrode with positive potential was more effective than that with negative potential for positive-ion acceleration in laser induced plasma, or pulsed plasma, in which ions were induced with the Coulomb explosion following electrons. In addition, the ion-acceleration or deceleration strongly depended on conditions of pairs of inner diameter and electrodes gap.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 2009

In this article, we fabricated polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) nozzle treated by ion beam, in order to fabricate polymer based electrospray micro thruster with super hydrophobic nozzle. To obtain the super hydrophobic surface, PTFE surface is treated by argon and oxygen plasma treatment process. The optimal condition is investigated argon and oxygen flow rate as well as the paalied energy level for the treatment process. Fabricated nozzle was evaluated by measuring contact angle, and the surface morphology was examined by using scanning electron microscope(SEM) and atomic force microscope(AFM). We observe that jetting becomes more stable and repeatable on the treated nozzle. And to evaluate performance of fabricated nozzle, we measure micro scale thrust using a cantilever and a nozzle treated by ion beam laser displacement sensor.