Title:
Design of the 3-D Printed Cold Gas Propulsion Systems for the VISORS Mission
Design of the 3-D Printed Cold Gas Propulsion Systems for the VISORS Mission
Author(s)
Hart, Samuel T.
Daniel, Nathan L.
Hartigan, Mark C.
Lightsey, E. Glenn
Daniel, Nathan L.
Hartigan, Mark C.
Lightsey, E. Glenn
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Abstract
The VISORS mission will observe the Sun's corona with the goal of collecting
data that can shed light on the mechanisms of coronal heating. This will be accomplished
through the use of a diffractive telescope. The telescope requires a
focal length of 40 meters, which will be achieved by implementing two precisely
positioned 6U CubeSats flying in formation. One spacecraft will carry the telescope
optics, and the other will carry the detector. The spacecraft have stringent
relative positioning requirements in science operations, which must be maintained
during 10 second observations. In order to accomplish this relative positioning, a
propulsion system capable of providing precise impulses in six orthogonal directions
is necessary on board each spacecraft. Due to the varied shapes and sizes of
each spacecraft's respective available payload volume, a different envelope is allotted
to each spacecraft's propulsion system. 3-D printing the propellant tanks,
nozzles, and tubing into one structure allows the full available propulsion volumes
to be used despite their unusual shapes. This has contributed to the design of two
low-cost propulsion systems capable of providing a combined total velocity
change of 23 m/s. This paper describes the pertinent mission requirements, propulsion
system design methodologies, and expected performance characteristics
of the thrusters.
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Date Issued
2022-02
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Text
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Paper
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