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CISAS Plasma propulsion group
The CISAS propulsion group focuses its activity on the study of innovative plasma actuators (plasma thrusters based on helicon source) for attitude control of satellite in formation flying.
The objective is the design of plasma thrusters based on helicon source by means of ad hoc numerical codes and subsequently the testing and verification of the thrusters itself.
CISAS propulsion group is divided into two sub-groups, (i) the numerical model group and (ii) the experimental group.
Numerical models group
The group of numerical simulation has developed and is developing codes to better understand plasmas evolution within source, particularly helicon sources.
Several type of code are under development at the moment with different porpoise:
- Global numerical model to support plasma source/thruster preliminary design
- 1-D electrostatic PIC code and 1-D wave code + particle code, to support thruster preliminary optimization
- 2-D 3-D PIC, electrostatic and electromagnetic codes to support thruster detailed optimization.
Codes are entirely designed and implemented within the CSIAS group
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Plasma potential within the source and ion beam characterization |
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The experimental group develops dedicated experiments and diagnostic set-up in order to validate code and evaluate source and thruster performances.
The experimental set-up, currently in operation, is divided in two part:
a) a thruster-like section, which is designed to be tested on different vacuum chamber and which has its own diagnostic to perform plasma characterization within the thruster,
b) an environment simulator section which is a large vacuum chamber expressly developed for space thruster analysis fully instrumented to characterize plasma expansion into vacuum and thruster performance.
At the moment an inductive plasma experiment is working at CISAS, realized with Argon and Nitrogen.
CISAS experimental set-up
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CISAS propulsion group started its activity in the 2001, with a feasibility study of NASA-VASIMR plasma thruster application to small interplanetary mission funded by Italian Space Agency. In the same frame CISAS group have supported Polytechnic of Turin, in the frame of an ESA-Ariadna contract to analyze plasmas evolution within a VASIME type thruster. Moreover two studies have been conducted, under ESA-Ariadna contract, to analyze the “double layer” acceleration mechanism observed on helicon-plasma-thrusters.
The main research activity on which the CISAS propulsion group is currently involved is the design development and testing of a small helicon-plasma thruster for position and attitude control operations. The research program, HPH.com is funded in the frame of the 7th framework program of the EU community, and involves 15 partner all over Europe. CISAS is the program coordinator.
The research program is developed thought the following steps:
a) Deep numerical-theoretical investigation through dedicated plasma-simulation tools.
b) Extensive experimental campaign to validate codes, to investigate the physics phenomena involved and to proof thruster performance.
c) The development of a thruster-prototype to be mounted on board of a nano-satellite to demonstrate technology feasibility,
d) The study of all the critical issues related to the application to a nano-satellite
e) The design and manufacturing of the nano-satellite mock up including all critical components
f) Analysis of scaling low to lower and higher power.
g) Detailed analysis in order to evaluate the possible application of the thruster in space missions requiring low thrust accurate attitude and position control. |
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