Microthruster

A microthruster comprising:

• a combustion chamber comprising a substrate material, a fuel inlet, and a gas outlet;
• a first resistance heater arranged in the combustion chamber;
• a catalyst structured and arranged to decompose fuel entering the combustion chamber;
• first substrate material sections heated by the first resistance heater to one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined temperature range;
• and
• a second resistance heater arranged in an interior of the combustion chamber between the catalyst and the gas outlet, whereby a gas leaving the catalyst is heated.

A microthruster comprising:

• a combustion chamber comprising a substrate material, a fuel inlet, and a gas outlet;
• a first resistance heater arranged in the combustion chamber;
• a catalyst structured and arranged to decompose fuel entering the combustion chamber;
• and
• first substrate material sections heated by the first resistance heater to one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined temperature range;
• wherein a volume of the combustion chamber is at least partially defined by a cover layer of the combustion chamber, whereby the cover layer adjoins at least the first substrate material sections, and
• wherein the cover layer is made from a structured silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer and is bonded via an electrical bonding to at least one of the first resistance heater and the first substrate material sections.

A microthruster comprising:

• a combustion chamber comprising a substrate material, a fuel inlet, and a gas outlet;
• a first resistance heater arranged in the combustion chamber;
• a catalyst structured and arranged to decompose fuel entering the combustion chamber;
• first substrate material sections heated by the first resistance heater to one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined temperature range;
• a cover layer having a peripheral boundary section;
• a functional area surrounded by the peripheral boundary section;
• and
• a layer arrangement arranged in the functional area and comprising an insulating layer, a metallization layer and a passivation layer, whereby the layer arrangement does not project beyond an assembly plane.

A microthruster comprising:

• a combustion chamber comprising a substrate material, a fuel inlet, and a gas outlet;
• a first resistance heater arranged in the combustion chamber;
• a catalyst structured and arranged to decompose fuel entering the combustion chamber;
• first substrate material sections heated by the first resistance heater to one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined temperature range;
• at least one of a first arrangement for detecting a first resistance of the first resistance heater and a second arrangement for detecting a second resistance of a second resistance heater;
• and
• a third arrangement for determining a first temperature from the first resistance and a second temperature from the second resistance.

A microthruster comprising:

• a combustion chamber comprising a substrate material, a fuel inlet, and a gas outlet;
• a first resistance heater arranged in the combustion chamber;
• a catalyst structured and arranged to decompose fuel entering the combustion chamber;
• first substrate material sections heated by the first resistance heater to one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined temperature range;
• and
• one of:
• a heater formed on a cover layer comprising a meandering conductor structure;
• and
• a heater arranged on a cover layer comprising a meandering conductor structure of a metal or a conductive material.

A microthruster comprising:

• a combustion chamber arranged in a substrate and comprising a fuel inlet and a gas outlet;
• a first resistance heater arranged in the combustion chamber;
• a catalyst structured and arranged to decompose fuel entering the combustion chamber;
• and
• at least first substrate material sections formed in the substrate and heated by the first resistance heater to one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined temperature range.