Development and chamber testing of a miniature radio-frequency ion thruster for microspacecraft

The high specific impulse provided by electric propulsion devices make them highly desirable for space missions in which the propellant mass budget is limited. The ion thruster is of particular interest because of its simplicity and its ability to make rapid changes in thrust by modifying input power level and acceleration grid potential. With respect to micro- and nanosatellites, a miniature ion thruster could provide an attractive method for changing spacecraft attitude and spin rate, as well as for enabling formation flying. A miniature radio frequency ion thruster (MRIT) is being developed and tested at The Pennsylvania State University. It consists of a radio frequency coil operating at a frequency of 13.56 MHz surrounding an ionization chamber capped with accelerating grids. This paper discusses the ongoing development work and testing of the MRIT for inclusion on the LionSat nanosatellite.