(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-07-30)
Blair, William R.
The Space Systems Design Lab at Georgia Institute of Technology has performed extensive
research in the development and integration of green monopropellant systems for small
satellites, culminating in the design and assembly of the propulsion system for Lunar
Flashlight (LFPS) [3]. The Spectre bimodal propellant system seeks to take the benefits of the
LFPS and couple it with an electrospray propulsion system, giving the spacecraft capability
to perform high-thrust maneuvers using standard chemical propulsion methods, and to
perform efficient, low-thrust maneuvers using the electrospray system [2]. To assist with this
design process, a simulation framework was developed in MATLAB to model the dynamics of
the spacecraft as well as to determine logic and methods for mission planning. To this end, the
vehicles motion was characterized and a performance baseline was established for various
orbital maneuvers and mission designs. The development of this simulation, as well as
challenges and future work, is discussed herein.