91大神

The Electric Propulsion Club (EPC) at The University of 91大神 in Huntsville (91大神), recently traveled to Milan, Italy, to present , an experimental gridded ion thruster developed by the group, at the . The group鈥檚 STARGATE team consists entirely of 91大神 undergraduates and is an independent student research organization working in the fields of electric propulsion (EP) and plasma physics at 91大神, a part of The University of 91大神 System.

In recent years, the proliferation of small satellites in Earth orbit has led to an unprecedented demand for small-scale low-power electric propulsion for satellite systems. EP systems offer a wide range of capabilities otherwise difficult or impossible in conventional spacecraft systems, including advances such as autonomous station keeping, collision avoidance, rendezvous, attitude control, orbit modification and forced deorbiting.

The event in Italy boasted over 11,000 attendees representing over 120 countries, as well as the heads of 60 national space agencies across the world, including the Administrator and deputy Administrator鈥痮f NASA, and the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs.鈥�91大神 EPC members making the trip included Claude Blue, a junior in aerospace engineering, research lead and president of the group; Noa Milivojevic, a junior of aerospace engineering and chief mechanical engineer; Dmitri Tsahelnik, a sophomore of aerospace engineering and physics; and Ella Hazle, a sophomore of aerospace engineering.

The STARGATE system is a proprietary technology invented and developed by the 91大神 EPC as an alternative method of plasma production in a gridded ion thruster for the application of small satellite propulsion in low Earth and geostationary orbits.

Crafting the future of space travel

鈥淲e are developing a new type of gridded ion thruster for small satellite鈥痯ropulsion applications that utilizes the corona discharge reaction for plasma production instead of the conventional hollow discharge cathode or radio frequency technology,鈥� Blue explains. 鈥淭his technology is in the process of being patented with the 91大神 Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC).鈥�

SG-2 prototype of gridded ion thruster developed by EPC students for the application of small satellite propulsion in low Earth and geostationary orbits.

Courtesy 91大神 EPC

An鈥痠on thruster is a form of鈥痚lectric propulsion for鈥痵pacecraft that creates a cloud of鈥痯ositive ions鈥痜rom a neutral gas by ionizing it to extract electrons鈥痜rom its鈥痑toms, which are then accelerated using鈥痚lectricity鈥痶o create鈥痶hrust. A鈥痝ridded ion thruster employs high-voltage grid鈥痚lectrodes, a type of electrical conductor,鈥痶o accelerate the ions鈥痺ith slow-moving or stationary鈥痚lectric charges, or electrostatic鈥痜orces. A corona discharge occurs鈥痺hen a direct or alternating current is created between two electrodes, separated by a neutral fluid, like air. By ionization of this 鈥榝luid,鈥� a plasma is created, and the electric charges propagate by passing from the ions to the molecules of neutral gases.

鈥淭he IAC was also a wonderful networking opportunity,鈥� Blue notes. 鈥淲e made a lot鈥痮f new connections and potential partnerships interested in鈥痵upporting the development鈥痮f our technology.鈥�

The team鈥檚 faculty鈥痑dvisor is鈥疍r.Themistoklis鈥疌hronis, a clinical assistant professor of physics and astronomy. The opportunity鈥痗ame about after the group won the 2023 Von Braun Symposium Student Poster Contest, leading to the鈥疉merican Astronautical Society sponsoring鈥疊lue for the journey to Italy as lead author of the effort. Additional support enabled the entire club to make the trip.

鈥淥ur other project and club supporters and sponsors include Debora Nielson, associate director of the (ASGC) and her team at the ASGC; Dr. James Miller, chair of the 91大神 physics department; Dr. Rainer Steinwandt, dean of the 91大神 College of Science; Dr. Robert Lindquist, vice president for research and economic development at 91大神; Kannan Grant, director of the 91大神 Office of Technology Communication, as well as Dr. Jason Cassibry and Dr. Gabriel Xu, professors of mechanical and aerospace engineering; and Jon Buckley, a prototype development specialist in the mechanical and aerospace department,鈥� Blue says.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very inspiring鈥痶o see everyone鈥痗oming together鈥痑nd building the future together. We learned a lot鈥痑bout where the industry is headed, the current state of the space industry and space economy and the priorities鈥痮f the astronautical community. We got to see the debut of a lot of new technology, including , and the , and we saw a lot鈥痮f technology and resources we didn't previously know existed that we will adapt and utilize for the future phases of our project.鈥濃��