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<p>CubeSat missions demand novel propulsion technologies to comply with their strict mass, volume, power and budget restraints. One such propulsion technology is a vacuum arc thruster (VAT). VATs generate thrust via pulsed plasma ejection from a cathode arc discharge. However, they often experience ignition failure before the complete consumption of the cathode propellant. In this study, we investigate potential the end-of-life indicators of VATs that could predict this failure. Understanding these indicators would enable an adaptive operating protocol to adjust the operating conditions of the VAT to ensure sustained and reliable operation. These include anode degradation, breakdown voltage, total charge in the discharge current and the anode–cathode resistance. The VATs are operated with direct, battery driven discharge to enable stable and variable duration pulses. The results from 9 planar VATs are presented, with discharge voltages of 50&#xa0;V and 67&#xa0;V, pulse durations of 0.5&#xa0;ms, 1&#xa0;ms and 2&#xa0;ms. Two VAT compositions are presented, each featuring an aluminium cathode: one paired with a copper anode and the other with a stainless-steel anode.</p>

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Assessment of end-of-life indicators of vacuum arc thrusters

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月30日

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  • James Saletes,
  • Minkwan Kim

摘要

CubeSat missions demand novel propulsion technologies to comply with their strict mass, volume, power and budget restraints. One such propulsion technology is a vacuum arc thruster (VAT). VATs generate thrust via pulsed plasma ejection from a cathode arc discharge. However, they often experience ignition failure before the complete consumption of the cathode propellant. In this study, we investigate potential the end-of-life indicators of VATs that could predict this failure. Understanding these indicators would enable an adaptive operating protocol to adjust the operating conditions of the VAT to ensure sustained and reliable operation. These include anode degradation, breakdown voltage, total charge in the discharge current and the anode–cathode resistance. The VATs are operated with direct, battery driven discharge to enable stable and variable duration pulses. The results from 9 planar VATs are presented, with discharge voltages of 50 V and 67 V, pulse durations of 0.5 ms, 1 ms and 2 ms. Two VAT compositions are presented, each featuring an aluminium cathode: one paired with a copper anode and the other with a stainless-steel anode.