• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
• /
• 2009.05a
• /
• pp.365-368
• /
• 2009

A new concept of a small thruster for altitude control of a micro/nano class satellite is developed, which utilizes the pulsed laser energy. As the laser-based thruster does not require burning of any fuel, it gives promise of small satellite design criteria, namely light weight and cost effectiveness. In this paper, we develop gel-type material for generating strong plasma plume for enhancing thrust for propulsion. Moreover, we quantify the level of thrust via the momentum coupling coefficient measured by the pendulum system. We discover that the driving force is significantly improved via the gel-typed propellant for laser ablation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
• /
• 2011.11a
• /
• pp.336-339
• /
• 2011

Hot-fire test facility is one of the most important infrastructure for thruster development and evaluation. During the past three years, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and Hanwha Corporation have successfully performed the construction of hot-fire test facility for medium-scale monopellant thruster to the maximum 200N thrust level. In general, thruster hot-firing test should be performed in vacuum conditions to simulate space environment. The hot-fire test facility is divided into three subsystems, vacuum system, propellant supply system and data measurement & control system. The goal of this facility is to extend the capability from small thruster for satellite mission to medium-scale thruster for launch vehicle and lunar mission. In this paper, the progress and overview for thruster hot-fire test facility was introduced and test results were also presented.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.84-89
• /
• 2011

A Xenon Feed System (XFS) has been developed for hall-effect thruster to small satellite space-propulsion system applications. The XFS delivers low pressure gas to the Anode and Cathode of thruster head unit from a xenon storage tank. Accurate throttling of the propellant mass flow rate is independently required for each channel of the thruster head unit. The mass flow rate to each channel is controlled using the accumulator tank pressure regulation through a micron orifice and isolation valve. This paper discusses the Xenon Feed System design including the component selections, performance estimation and functional test.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.37 no.9
• /
• pp.906-915
• /
• 2009

To study the plume effects in the vacuum area, the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo(DSMC) method is usually adopted because the plume field usually contains the entire range of flow regime from the near-continuum in the vicinity of nozzle exit through transitional state to free molecular at far field region from the nozzle. The objective of this study is to investigate the behaviors of a small monopropellant thruster plume in the vacuum area numerically using DSMC method. To deduce accurate results efficiently, the preconditioned scheme is introduced to calculate continuum flow fields inside thruster to predict nozzle exit properties used for inlet conditions of DSMC method. By combining these two methods, the vacuum flow characteristics of plume such as strong nonequilibrium near nozzle exit, large back flow area, etc, can be investigated.

• Aerospace Industry
• /
• s.96
• /
• pp.28-31
• /
• 2007

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
• /
• 2007.10a
• /
• pp.139-143
• /
• 2007

Electric propulsion has become a cost effective and sound engineering solution for many space applications. The success of SMART-1 and MUSES-C developed by European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) each proved that even small spacecraft could accomplish planetary mission with electric propulsion systems. A small electric propulsion system which is Hall effect thruster like SMART-1 is under development by SaTReC and GDPL (Glow Discharge Plasma Lab.) in KAIST for the next microsatellite, STSAT-3. To achieve optimized propulsion system, it is very necessary to understand plasma motions of Hall effect thruster. In this paper, we try to approach comprehensive plasma model with the particle simulation complementary to Particle In Cell (PIC) simulation. We think these two different approaches will help experimenters to optimize Hall effect thruster performances.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.419-424
• /
• 2009

A Xenon feed system has been developed for a 300 W Hall-effect thruster intended for orbit maintenance of small satellite. The system can store about 2 kg of xenon gas at 150 bar and is capable of controlling the mass flow rate of the gas at 0.5 SCCM resolution. The performance of the system is verified with a laboratory experiment. It is confirmed that the operation of the feed system is successful at a pressure level of $1.0{\times}10^{-6}$ torr in the vacuum chamber.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.195-200
• /
• 2011

A low power Hall thruster is under development for orbit maintenance of a small Earth observing satellite. Both cylindrical and annular type thrusters were manufactured and tested to characterize the performance of cylindrical Hall thrusters. Results were described through comparative analyses. Cylindrical thrusters were manufactured in two different channel diameter dimensions, 28 mm and 50 mm. Thrust, ion velocity and ion current were measured in various operating conditions. The results show that cylindrical thrusters are more efficient in mass utilization and voltage utilization, but less efficient in current utilization than annular one.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
• /
• 2011.04a
• /
• pp.117-120
• /
• 2011

The parameters which can affect the performance of small thruster were verified by experiments. The loss of catalyst through the port for pressure sensor was prevented by chamber wall mesh. There was no performance decrease due to chamber wall mesh, and stable supply of propellant is the key of stability of the thruster. However, sudden pressure drop in the chamber can decrease the performance instantly. Therefore, the sudden pressure drop should be eliminated as much as possible. The cross type distributor showed more stable performance than circular type, and structural strength is also stronger.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2017

In this paper, we present a study concerning the design of a 400 N class side thruster for small ships. The side thrusters used in Korea are imported from abroad. The performance and durability of the imported products employed in Korea are not adequate, therefore the side thrusters which will be suitable for Korean domestic needs to be re-designed. The strength calculation of the side thruster was performed by KS standard. Strength calculation and design were made to meet design requirements. Structural analysis and safety factor analysis were carried out to confirm the validity of strength calculations and design. After manufacturing the bevel gear, a back lash test was conducted. We also conducted a no-load test, a rated load, and an overload test for a performance test and a durability test of the design while satisfying the design conditions.