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MEMS Reaction Control and Maneuvering for Picosat Beyond LEOThe MEMS Reaction Control and Maneuvering for Picosat Beyond LEO project will further develop a multi-functional small satellite technology for low-power attitude control, or orientation, of picosatellites beyond low Earth orbit (LEO). The Film-Evaporation MEMS Tunable Array (FEMTA) concept initially developed in 2013, is a thermal valving system which utilizes capillary forces in a microchannel to offset internal pressures in a bulk fluid. The local vapor pressure is increased by resistive film heating until it exceeds meniscus strength in a nozzle which induces vacuum boiling and provides a stagnation pressure equal to vapor pressure at that point which is used for propulsion. Interplanetary CubeSats can utilize FEMTA for high slew rate attitude corrections in addition to desaturating reaction wheels. The FEMTA in cooling mode can be used for thermal control during high-power communication events, which are likely to accompany the attitude correction. Current small satellite propulsion options are limited to orbit correction whereas picosatellites are lacking attitude control thrusters. The available attitude control systems are either quickly saturated reaction wheels or movable high drag surfaces with long response times.
Document ID
20160007910
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Other - Brief Communication/Note
Authors
Alexeenko, Alina
(Purdue Univ. West Lafayette, IN, United States)
Date Acquired
June 27, 2016
Publication Date
April 20, 2016
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Mechanical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN31595
NASA FS-2016-04-05-ARC
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX15AW40A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Low-power attitude control
Propulsion
FEMTA
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