Spacecraft Could be Equipped With Tiny Thrusters That Use Water for Propellant
Engineers working with the European Space Agency have developed a new thruster design smaller than the tip of your finger. Despite its small size, this mini-thruster designed for CubeSats appears to be highly efficient without the use of toxic chemicals.
Called the Iridium Catalysed Electrolysis CubeSat Thruster (ICE-Cube Thruster), it allows CubeSats to maneuver without bulky gas propellant storage. The thruster uses an electrolyzer to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen, which is expelled into space, pushing the spacecraft in the opposite direction. A test achieved 1.25 millinewtons of sustained thrust, which is good enough for this application. Small Cubesats usually launch to space as secondary payloads on other missions.
Comparatively, the much larger Block 1 Space Launch System rocket (SLS) generates 39.1 Meganewtons (8.8 million pounds) of thrust at launch to lift its much larger rocket and payload into space.
The tiny thruster was developed at Imperial College in the UK.
“The reason for such a small-scale thruster is to meet the needs of the rapidly growing small satellite market,” said research postgraduate Charlie Muir from Imperial who is working on this project with ESA.
The ICE-200 thruster which uses the same manufacturing techniques as microchips. Credit: Imperial College.
The design is quite simple: an electrolyzer runs a 20-watt current through water to produce hydrogen and oxygen to propel the thruster. The combustion chamber and nozzle measure less than 1mm in length, and since it is so small, it needs to be constructed in the same fashion as microchips.
Since its doesn’t use regular fuel, no pressurization is needed to store it, so storage and handling systems can be smaller and much simpler. The CubeSat’s solar arrays can be used to harness energy from the Sun to supply the electric power needed to operate the miniature electrolysis system.
So far, the ICE-Cube Thruster has only been tested in a laboratory setting.
NASA has also been studying the use of water-based fuels for Cubesats, but their thruster system is not as small as the ICE-Cube Thruster.
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/articles/spacecraft-could-be-equipped-with-tiny-thrusters-that-use-water-for-propellant
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Online: | |
| Visits: | 1,682,685,960 |
| Stories: | 8,372,841 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
