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Development of A Thrust Stand to Meet LISA Mission RequirementsA thrust stand has been built and tested that is capable of measuring the force-noise produced by electrostatic micro-Newton (micro-Newton) thrusters. The LISA mission's Disturbance Reduction System (DRS) requires thrusters that are capable of producing continuous thrust levels between 1-100 micro-Newton with a resolution of 0.1 micro-Newton. The stationary force-noise produced by these thrusters must not exceed 0.1 pN/4Hz in a 10 Hz bandwidth. The LISA Thrust Stand (LTS) is a torsion-balance type thrust stand designed to meet the following requirements: stationary force-noise measurements from 10(exp-4) to 1 Hz with 0.1 micro-Newton resolution, absolute thrust measurements from 1-100 micro-Newton with better than 0.1 micro-Newton resolution, and dynamic thruster response from 10(exp -4) to 10 Hz. The ITS employs a unique vertical configuration, autocollimator for angular position measurements, and electrostatic actuators that are used for dynamic pendulum control and null-mode measurements. Force-noise levels are measured indirectly by characterizing the thrust stand as a spring-mass system. The LTS was initially designed to test the indium FEEP thruster developed by the Austrian Research Center in Seibersdorf (ARCS), but can be modified for testing other thrusters of this type.
Document ID
20020083158
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Willis, William D., III
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Zakrzwski, C. M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Bauer, Frank H.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Research And Support Facilities (Air)
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference
Country: United States
Start Date: July 7, 2002
End Date: July 10, 2002
Sponsors: Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., American Society for Electrical Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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