MEMS Digital Propulsion Microthrusters Have Advantages
Physics of operation is straightforward
- Individual plenums can be loaded with many types of propellants
- Heating increases plenum pressure-ruptures MEMS fabricated blowout disk which delivers impulse to microsatellite
Digital propulsion has advantages
- Can deliver precise impulse bit for microsatellite applications for insertion, station keeping, attitude control, disposal
- Pulsed design has operational advantages
- No moving parts
- Multiple propellant options
- Variable plenum and throat dimensions for programmable thrust and impulse delivery
- Up to ~106 engines or more per 10 cm. wafer
Design scales directly to Meso- and Macroscale
Diaphragms on bottom, expansion nozzles on top
Propellant fills individual holes
Polysilicon “ignitors” with direct inter-connects to bond pads (no electronics)