Jennifer Hudson, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering – Western Michigan University, Kristina Lemmer, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering – Western Michigan University
Keywords: Plasma diagnostics, electric propulsion, CubeSat
Abstract:
New sensing assets are needed to characterize and assess electric propulsion systems in the space environment. Recent research has shown that visible and near-infrared spectral measurements of electric propulsion plasma plume emissions can be used to determine electron temperature, density, and propellant type. From these measurements, analysts can assess thruster health and diagnose causes of anomalous behavior. Propellant signature detection can also be used to identify thruster type. Spectral measurements taken by ground-based instruments are limited by transmission losses through the atmosphere and by the viewing angles and availability of telescopes. A new CubeSat-based optical emission spectroscopy (OES) system is proposed to perform electric propulsion system diagnostics from a low-cost, space-based platform. The Plasma-Spectroscopy (P-Spec) CubeSat is currently in development for a first flight test. P-Spec’s OES payload will collect inter-satellite spectral measurements of the plasma plume from a hollow cathode with xenon propellant over a range of distances up to 1 km. An overview of the spacecraft design and mission plan are presented, and the use of OES spectral measurements for thruster health diagnostics and Space Situational Awareness applications are discussed.
Date of Conference: September 19-22, 2017
Track: Optical Systems