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US 2024/0125308 A1Published application
Spacecraft propulsion system and method of operation
AssigneeIceye Oy
InventorsJakub KORCZYC, Jonathan DE HOLANDA, Rafal MODRZEWSKI
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AssigneeIceye Oy
InventorsJakub KORCZYC, Jonathan DE HOLANDA, Rafal MODRZEWSKI
Estimating the term…
A method of operating a spacecraft propulsion system comprises injecting electrons into the plasma surrounding the spacecraft prior to creating the stream of ions, and after commencing creation of the ion stream, continuing the injection of electrons in an amount sufficient to maintain the spacecraft at a positive potential. This method may be implemented in a single thruster. In spacecraft with multiple thrusters the same method may be implemented in each thruster. Where the propulsion system comprises a plurality of thrusters, the method may comprise: operating at least one of the thrusters as a drive thruster, and operating at least one of the thrusters as an auxiliary or “reserve” thruster. The electron source of the at least one auxiliary thruster may be operated before creation of the ion stream to inject the electrons into the plasma surrounding the spacecraft.
1-14. (canceled)
A method of operating a spacecraft propulsion system comprising at least one thruster, the at least one thruster comprising an ion source for creating a stream of ions to propel the spacecraft and an electron source for emitting electrons,
A spacecraft propulsion system comprising at least one thruster, the at least one thruster comprising an ion source for creating a stream of ions to propel the spacecraft and at least one electron source, and a controller configured to operate the at least one thruster by controlling the electron source to constrain the production of electrons to perform one or both of
A computer readable medium comprising instructions for implementation in a spacecraft propulsion system comprising at least one thruster, the at least one thruster comprising an ion source for creating a stream of ions to propel the spacecraft and an electron source for emitting electrons, wherein when the instructions are implemented in a processor in a spacecraft propulsion system controller the system is caused to operate at least one thruster by controlling the electron source to constrain the production of electrons to perform one or both of
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.