Integrated ion thruster unit for a spacecraft
AssigneeAccion Systems Inc., dba Revolution Space
InventorsDarren Garber, Paul Richards, Adam Zachar, Gene Daidone, Dakota Freeman, Will Maulbetsch, Justine Bolster
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Abstract
An integrated ion thruster unit for a spacecraft can include a unit housing including a thrust face, and a plurality of tiles arranged in an array on the thrust face. Each of the tiles can include an emitter and an extractor configured to provide a reference voltage with respect to the emitter. The emitter can include a plurality of tips configured to emit ions in a thrust direction from an ionic liquid propellant in response to an applied voltage.
Claims21
An integrated ion thruster unit for a spacecraft, the integrated ion thruster unit comprising:
- a unit housing comprising a thrust face;
- and
- a plurality of tiles arranged in an array on the thrust face, wherein each of the tiles comprises:
- an emitter comprising a plurality of tips configured to emit ions in a thrust direction from an ionic liquid propellant in response to an applied voltage;
- and
- an extractor configured to provide a reference voltage with respect to the emitter.
21-56. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.