FURI | Spring 2018

Pulsed Plasma Thruster Magnetic Field Study

A pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) is a type of compact thruster designed for small satellites ideal for precise attitude changes in a vacuum. The principle describing the thrust is the Lorenz Force, of which the strength of a magnetic field is a factor. This study projects the expected improvement of performance due to an applied magnetic field based on experimental data from a small thruster configuration intended for an 8-thruster multi-axis 0.5-1U (10cm by 10cm by 5-10cm) application. Such an improvement can lead to greater efficiency and lifespan of such a thruster design.