Performance and lifetime testing of a pulsed plasma thruster for Cubesat applications

This paper describes the design and testing of the engineering model of a pulsed plasma thruster for Cubesat applications (PPTCUP-EM). It has been developed by Mars Space Ltd, Clyde Space Ltd and the University of Southampton with the main aim of increasing the in-orbit lifetime of Cubesats by providing drag compensation. Nevertheless, this thruster can be also utilized to perform formation flying, small orbit changes and Cubesat end of life deorbiting. A test campaign has been carried out to prove that the thruster and the conditioning electronics lifetimes are long enough to utilize all the propellant stored on-board. From the results of the test, the PPTCUP-EM can deliver a total impulse of 42.9±3.9 N s in about 1,125,000 shots. Moreover during the test campaign, a total of more than 1,800,000 shots have been achieved providing a safety factor of about 60% with respect to the number of required shots. The results gathered, including a preliminary characterization of the electromagnetic noise generated by the unit, are presented and show that the overall thruster performance is not influenced by the thruster aging.