Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Metal plasma thruster cube
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Application No.: US17214893Application Date: 2021-03-28
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Publication No.: US11644016B2Publication Date: 2023-05-09
- Inventor: Mahadevan Krishnan , Katherine M. Velas
- Applicant: Benchmark Space Systems, Inc.
- Applicant Address: US VT Burlington
- Assignee: Benchmark Space Systems, Inc.
- Current Assignee: Benchmark Space Systems, Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US VT Burlington
- Agency: Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC
- Main IPC: F03H1/00
- IPC: F03H1/00 ; B64G1/10 ; B64G1/40 ; H05H1/24

Abstract:
A pulsed metal plasma thruster (MPT) cube has a plurality of thrusters, each having a first cathode electrode and a trigger electrode separated from the first electrode by an insulator sufficient to support an initiation plasma, and a porous anode electrode positioned a separation distance from the face of all of the cathode electrodes. The cathode electrode can be either the inner electrode or the outer electrode. A power supply delivers a high voltage pulse to the trigger electrode with respect to the cathode electrode sufficient to initiate a plasma on the surface of the insulator. The plasma transfers between the anode electrode and cathode electrode of selected thrusters, thereby generating a pulse of thrust.
Public/Granted literature
- US20210301798A1 Metal Plasma Thruster Cube Public/Granted day:2021-09-30
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