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Delivery of Colloid Micro-Newton Thrusters for the Space Technology 7 MissionTwo flight-qualified clusters of four Colloid Micro-Newton Thruster (CMNT) systems have been delivered to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The clusters will provide precise spacecraft control for the drag-free technology demonstration mission, Space Technology 7 (ST7). The ST7 mission is sponsored by the NASA New Millennium Program and will demonstrate precision formation flying technologies for future missions such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. The ST7 disturbance reduction system (DRS) will be on the ESA LISA Pathfinder spacecraft using the European gravitational reference sensor (GRS) as part of the ESA LISA Technology Package (LTP). Developed by Busek Co. Inc., with support from JPL in design and testing, the CMNT has been developed over the last six years into a flight-ready and flight-qualified microthruster system, the first of its kind. Recent flight-unit qualification tests have included vibration and thermal vacuum environmental testing, as well as performance verification and acceptance tests. All tests have been completed successfully prior to delivery to JPL. Delivery of the first flight unit occurred in February of 2008 with the second unit following in May of 2008. Since arrival at JPL, the units have successfully passed through mass distribution, magnetic, and EMI/EMC measurements and tests as part of the integration and test (I&T) activities including the integrated avionics unit (IAU). Flight software sequences have been tested and validated with the full flight DRS instrument successfully to the extent possible in ground testing, including full functional and 72 hour autonomous operations tests. Delivery of the cluster assemblies along with the IAU to ESA for integration into the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft is planned for the summer of 2008 with a planned launch and flight demonstration in late 2010.
Document ID
20150014768
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Ziemer, John K.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Randolph, Thomas M.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Franklin, Garth W.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Hruby, Vlad
(Busek (J.) Co., Inc. Natick, MA, United States)
Spence, Douglas
(Busek (J.) Co., Inc. Natick, MA, United States)
Demmons, Nathaniel
(Busek (J.) Co., Inc. Natick, MA, United States)
Roy, Thomas
(Busek (J.) Co., Inc. Natick, MA, United States)
Ehrbar, Eric
(Busek (J.) Co., Inc. Natick, MA, United States)
Zwahlen, Jurg
(Busek (J.) Co., Inc. Natick, MA, United States)
Martin, Roy
(Busek (J.) Co., Inc. Natick, MA, United States)
Connolly, William
(Busek (J.) Co., Inc. Natick, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 3, 2015
Publication Date
July 21, 2008
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
AIAA Paper 2008-4826
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit
Location: Hartford, CT
Country: United States
Start Date: July 21, 2008
End Date: July 23, 2008
Sponsors: American Society for Electrical Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Precision Formation Flying
Micropropulsion

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