Micro scalable thrusters for adaptive mission profiles in space—μSTAMPS

An electrospray thruster comprising:

• at least one reservoir containing a fluid;
• at least first and second electrospray emitters, each comprising:
• a dielectric comprising one or more channels formed through a thickness of the dielectric;
• and
• an extraction electrode, wherein the extraction electrode is positioned on an opposite side of the dielectric from the reservoir, in a direction of the thickness of the dielectric;
• wherein a first end of each of the channels is in fluidic communication, at an upstream surface of the dielectric, with the fluid contained within the reservoir;
• and
• wherein a second end of each of the channels is in fluidic communication, at a downstream surface of the dielectric, with an external atmosphere surrounding the thruster;
• wherein the first and second electrospray emitters are arranged adjacent to each other on opposite sides of a plane and are inclined, relative to the plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, at opposite angles from each other;
• wherein the first and second electrospray emitters are independently operable from each other;
• and
• wherein the thruster is configured such that:
• when the first electrospray emitter is activated by applying an electrospray onset voltage difference between the extraction electrode of the first electrospray emitter and the fluid, the fluid is ejected from the channels of the first electrospray emitter to generate a first thrust, which has a vector inclined relative to the plane at a same angle as the first electrospray emitter;
• and
• when the second electrospray emitter is activated by applying the electrospray onset voltage difference between the extraction electrode of the second electrospray emitter and the fluid, the fluid is ejected from the channels of the second electrospray emitter to generate a second thrust, which has a vector inclined relative to the plane at a same angle as the second electrospray emitter.

An electrospray thruster comprising:

• at least one reservoir containing a fluid;
• at least first, second, third, and fourth electrospray emitters, each comprising:
• a dielectric comprising one or more channels formed through a thickness of the dielectric;
• and
• an extraction electrode, wherein the extraction electrode is positioned on an opposite side of the dielectric from the reservoir, in a direction of the thickness of the dielectric;
• wherein a first end of each of the channels is in fluidic communication, at an upstream surface of the dielectric, with the fluid contained within the reservoir;
• and
• wherein a second end of each of the channels is in fluidic communication, at a downstream surface of the dielectric, with an external atmosphere surrounding the thruster;
• wherein the first, second, third, and fourth electrospray emitters are substantially uniformly arranged about a longitudinal axis;
• wherein the first and third electrospray emitters define a first electrospray emitter pair and are radially spaced apart from each other by about 180°, such that the first and third electrospray emitters are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis from each other, and are inclined, relative to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, at opposite angles from each other;
• wherein the second electrospray emitter is radially spaced apart from the first and third electrospray emitters by about 90°;
• wherein the second and fourth electrospray emitters define a second electrospray emitter pair and are radially spaced apart from each other by about 180°, such that the second and fourth electrospray emitters are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis from each other, and are inclined, relative to the plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, at opposite angles from each other;
• wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth electrospray emitters are independently operable from each other;
• and
• wherein the thruster is configured such that:
• when the first electrospray emitter is activated by applying an electrospray onset voltage difference between the extraction electrode of the first electrospray emitter and the fluid, the fluid is ejected from the channels of the first electrospray emitter to generate a first thrust, which has a vector inclined relative to the longitudinal axis at a same angle as the first electrospray emitter;
• when the second electrospray emitter is activated by applying the electrospray onset voltage difference between the extraction electrode of the second electrospray emitter and the fluid, the fluid is ejected from the channels of the second electrospray emitter to generate a second thrust, which has a vector inclined relative to the longitudinal axis at a same angle as the second electrospray emitter;
• when the third electrospray emitter is activated by applying the electrospray onset voltage difference between the extraction electrode of the third electrospray emitter and the fluid, the fluid is ejected from the channels of the third electrospray emitter to generate a third thrust, which has a vector inclined relative to the longitudinal axis at a same angle as the third electrospray emitter;
• and
• when the fourth electrospray emitter is activated by applying the electrospray onset voltage difference between the extraction electrode of the fourth electrospray emitter and the fluid, the fluid is ejected from the channels of the fourth electrospray emitter to generate a fourth thrust, which has a vector inclined relative to the longitudinal axis at a same angle as the fourth electrospray emitter.