. 24/7 Space News .
MICROSAT BLITZ
New technology helps address big problems for small satellites
by Staff Writers
West Lafayette IL (SPX) Feb 07, 2019

This rendering depicts a device that electromagnetically accelerates plasma to produce thrust - contrasting typical chemical thrusters. In order to create the propellant plasma, a low energy surface flashover (LESF) technique is employed at the beginning of the channel.

CubeSats have become big players in space exploration. Their small size and relatively low cost have made them popular choices for commercial launches in recent years, but the process to propel such satellites in space comes with a number of problems.

Now, Purdue University researchers have developed a technology to address one of those key problems - the uncertainty of the ignition system that initiates the propulsion system of the CubeSats. Current ignition systems are unreliable and can be subject to significant and irreversible damage during the lifespan of the satellite.

"We have created a lower energy triggering technology that uses nanosecond-long pulses, that allows the ignition and propulsion systems to function reliably for a very long time," said Alexey Shashurin, an assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics in Purdue's College of Engineering.

"Specifically, we have successfully tested the ignition system for greater than 1.5 million pulses and it remained operational and almost intact after the test. This is a giant leap for extending the lifetime of electric propulsion systems for CubeSats."

Their work aligns with Purdue's Giant Leaps celebration, celebrating the university's global advancements in space exploration as part of Purdue's 150th anniversary. This is one of the four themes of the yearlong celebration's Ideas Festival, designed to showcase Purdue as an intellectual center solving real-world issues.

Overall popularity of the CubeSats is heavily driven by the great advancement in miniaturization of electronic components and sensors that allows for new kinds of space missions and measurements using a CubeSat.

"It is exciting to tackle these new challenges presented on spacecraft of a much smaller scale than in previous years," Shashurin said. "The next step for the CubeSats is to have a robust propulsion system for necessary maneuvering and station-keeping duties."

Shashurin and his team worked with the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization to file a provisional patent on the technology.

The work was published in the Jan. 10 edition of Plasma Research Express. It was also presented during the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech Forum last month in San Diego.

The team is planning to participate in the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program, which provides support for conducting extensive customer discovery with an ultimate goal to find industrial partners and commercialize the technology.


Related Links
Purdue University
Microsat News and Nanosat News at SpaceMart.com


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


MICROSAT BLITZ
The Arch Mission Foundation and SpaceChain Create Orbital Library
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 04, 2019
The Arch Mission Foundation has announced that they had successfully placed the first archive in space in partnership with SpaceChain, a community-based space platform that combines space and blockchain technologies to build the world's first open-source blockchain-based satellite network. The archive, called the Orbital Library, initially contains a copy of Wikipedia and was launched as part of SpaceChain's payload sent by a CZ-4B Y34 rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, Xinzhou, China in ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

MICROSAT BLITZ
Over 10 Liters of Water Leaked From Space Toilet at US Segment at ISS

Waystation to the Solar System

Spotlight on Space Station science

ISRO Unveils Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru

MICROSAT BLITZ
Learning on the Job: Student Rocket Launches From Norway

India enlists France's Arianespace to replace dying satellite

ISRO Set To Launch Communication Satellite GSAT-31 On February 6

The Future of Space Prospecting: Surprising Rocket Fuel Unveiled

MICROSAT BLITZ
Beyond Mars, the Mini MarCO Spacecraft Fall Silent

InSight's Seismometer Now Has a Cozy Shelter on Mars

What Can Curiosity Tell Us About How a Martian Mountain Formed

Research Uses Curiosity Rover to Measure Gravity on Mars

MICROSAT BLITZ
Seed of moon's first sprout: Chinese scientists' endeavor

China to send over 50 spacecraft into space via over 30 launches in 2019

China to deepen lunar exploration: space expert

China launches Zhongxing-2D satellite

MICROSAT BLITZ
3400 new UK space jobs created

OneWeb delays launch of satellites due to problems with Russian carrier rocket

Asgardia Micro-Nation to Launch 10,000 Satellites to Make Web Free

Thales Alenia Space and Maxar Consortium Achieve Major Milestone in Design Phase of Telesat's LEO Satellite Constellation

MICROSAT BLITZ
Raytheon's Spy-6 Navy radar passes most complicated test

Capella Space Selects Phase Four for Maxwell On-Orbit Propulsion System

3D printed tires and shoes that self-repair

Researchers use artificial neural networks to streamline materials testing

MICROSAT BLITZ
ASU scientists study organization of life on a planetary scale

Magnifying glass reveals unexpected intermediate mass exoplanets

Where Is Earth's Submoon?

Planetary collision that formed the Moon made life possible on Earth

MICROSAT BLITZ
Sodium, Not Heat, Reveals Volcanic Activity on Jupiter's Moon Io

New Horizons' Newest and Best-Yet View of Ultima Thule

Missing link in planet evolution found

Juno's Latest Flyby of Jupiter Captures Two Massive Storms









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.