Pierced waveguide thruster
AssigneeMomentus Space LLC
InventorsJason Hummelt, Vladlen Podolsky, Nicolas Gascon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed propulsion system of a space vehicle and the methods of operating the propulsion system use a microwave energy source to heat propellant in a propellant chamber that pierces and traverses a waveguide carrying the microwave energy. In some implementations, the microwave energy ionizes and further heats the propellant in the propellant chamber. The partially ionized and heated propellant may exit the propellant chamber via a nozzle to generate thrust.
Claims25
A propulsion system for a space vehicle, the propulsion system comprising:
- a source of microwave energy;
- a waveguide coupled to the source of microwave energy, the waveguide configured to have a propagation direction;
- a primary propellant chamber at least partially disposed within the waveguide, the primary propellant chamber having a chamber wall, an ingress port, and an egress port, and the chamber wall comprising a dielectric material;
- a propellant injection mechanism configured to inject propellant into the primary propellant chamber via the ingress port;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- cause the propellant injection mechanism to inject the propellant into the primary propellant chamber;
- and
- cause the source of microwave energy to supply energy to the propellant in the primary propellant chamber through the dielectric material of the chamber wall and via the waveguide to thereby heat the propellant and cause the heated propellant to exit the primary propellant chamber via the egress port.
A method of operating a propulsion system in a space vehicle, the method comprising:
- generating microwave energy using a source of microwave energy;
- coupling the generated microwave energy to a waveguide, the waveguide configured to have a propagation direction;
- injecting, via an ingress port using a propellant injection mechanism controlled by a controller, propellant into a primary propellant chamber at least partially disposed within the waveguide, the chamber wall comprising a dielectric material;
- and
- supplying, via the waveguide and through the dielectric material of the chamber wall, energy to the propellant in the primary propellant chamber to thereby heat the propellant and cause the heated propellant to exit the primary propellant chamber via an egress port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.