Operation of Vacuum Arc Thruster Arrays with Multiple Isolated Current Sources
Vacuum arc thrusters (VATs) have recently gained significant interest as a micro-propulsion system due to their scalability, low cost, storability, and small form factor. While VATs offer an attractive propulsion solution for CubeSats, conventional propellant feed systems used in VATs require intric...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Benjamin Kanda Minkwan Kim |
| author_facet | Benjamin Kanda Minkwan Kim |
| author_sort | Benjamin Kanda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vacuum arc thrusters (VATs) have recently gained significant interest as a micro-propulsion system due to their scalability, low cost, storability, and small form factor. While VATs offer an attractive propulsion solution for CubeSats, conventional propellant feed systems used in VATs require intricate mechanical moving parts, increasing overall system complexity and mission risk. A promising alternative is the use of VAT arrays, where multiple thin-layer VATs are arranged in a regularly spaced grid, thus enhancing reliability, increasing total impulse without a mechanical propellant feed system, and enabling integrated attitude control via off-axis thruster placement. However, VAT arrays require a larger power processing unit (PPU) and additional control system, posing challenges within CubeSat volume constraints. To address this, this study proposes a novel PPU design that enables the simultaneous operation of multiple VATs while minimising system mass and volume. Experimental results demonstrate the successful operation of VAT pairs using the proposed PPU concept, validating its feasibility as an efficient propulsion solution for CubeSats. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a4eeebeb912043a0a0fd2304fd4e152e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2226-4310 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Aerospace |
| spelling | doaj-art-a4eeebeb912043a0a0fd2304fd4e152e2025-08-20T03:30:24ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102025-06-0112654910.3390/aerospace12060549Operation of Vacuum Arc Thruster Arrays with Multiple Isolated Current SourcesBenjamin Kanda0Minkwan Kim1Department of Astronautics, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UKDepartment of Astronautics, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UKVacuum arc thrusters (VATs) have recently gained significant interest as a micro-propulsion system due to their scalability, low cost, storability, and small form factor. While VATs offer an attractive propulsion solution for CubeSats, conventional propellant feed systems used in VATs require intricate mechanical moving parts, increasing overall system complexity and mission risk. A promising alternative is the use of VAT arrays, where multiple thin-layer VATs are arranged in a regularly spaced grid, thus enhancing reliability, increasing total impulse without a mechanical propellant feed system, and enabling integrated attitude control via off-axis thruster placement. However, VAT arrays require a larger power processing unit (PPU) and additional control system, posing challenges within CubeSat volume constraints. To address this, this study proposes a novel PPU design that enables the simultaneous operation of multiple VATs while minimising system mass and volume. Experimental results demonstrate the successful operation of VAT pairs using the proposed PPU concept, validating its feasibility as an efficient propulsion solution for CubeSats.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/6/549vacuum arc thrusterCubeSatnanosatellitemicro-propulsion systempower processing unit |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin Kanda Minkwan Kim Operation of Vacuum Arc Thruster Arrays with Multiple Isolated Current Sources Aerospace vacuum arc thruster CubeSat nanosatellite micro-propulsion system power processing unit |
| title | Operation of Vacuum Arc Thruster Arrays with Multiple Isolated Current Sources |
| title_full | Operation of Vacuum Arc Thruster Arrays with Multiple Isolated Current Sources |
| title_fullStr | Operation of Vacuum Arc Thruster Arrays with Multiple Isolated Current Sources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Operation of Vacuum Arc Thruster Arrays with Multiple Isolated Current Sources |
| title_short | Operation of Vacuum Arc Thruster Arrays with Multiple Isolated Current Sources |
| title_sort | operation of vacuum arc thruster arrays with multiple isolated current sources |
| topic | vacuum arc thruster CubeSat nanosatellite micro-propulsion system power processing unit |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/6/549 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benjaminkanda operationofvacuumarcthrusterarrayswithmultipleisolatedcurrentsources AT minkwankim operationofvacuumarcthrusterarrayswithmultipleisolatedcurrentsources |