Through a NASA Phase II SBIR Contract # 80NSSC18C0063, CUA developed the 1.7U-32J Fiber-fed Pulsed Plasma Thruster (FPPT), which achieves scalable propellant throughput with its fiber-fed design. During the development process, subsystems were improved and miniaturized. These include the high-density energy storage via multi-layer ceramic (MLCC) capacitors (100x life tested), high-thrust, low-erosion discharge geometry, regenerative carbon igniters with effectively zero erosion, compact power electronics, and electromagnetic thrust vectoring. CU Aerospace (CUA) proposes the development and delivery to NASA of an ESPA-class version of its 1.7U-32J FPPT for active debris removal (ADR) applications of small satellites. This variant is estimated to have a specific impulse stretch goal of >3,500 s, matching its smaller 1.7U-32J version, but dramatically increased total impulse goal of >650 kN-s. This larger variant will allow small satellites to orbit raise to 2000 km, capture orbital debris, and then deorbit 400 km or lower to allow the debris to burn up more rapidly than possible from just atmospheric drag. CUA’s thrust vectoring technology is planned to be integrated into the system during the Sequential effort. Thermal management improvements will allow the FPPT-ESPA to operate in regimes competitive with sub-kW hall thrusters, but with lower cost, simpler integration, and lower risk to primary payloads.

The practice of responsible space and deorbit capability of LEO satellites is critical for the prevention of an escalation of space debris. With a stretch goal of >650 kN-s total impulse from a FPPT-ESPA system, an active debris removal mission can deorbit multiple objects from different orbits within a 5-year window. Furthermore, the system could serve as primary propulsion for other ESPA-class missions and enable large orbit changes and end-of-life deorbit.

Commercial interest in small-satellites continues to grow, and it is more important than ever that these satellites have access to a technology for end-of-life deorbiting. The FPPT provides a competitive non-hazardous, high total impulse propulsion technology solution for DOD/industry/academia. Commercial ADR missions would benefit from the cost and ease of integration provided by FPPT-ESPA.