Preliminary Development Of A Hydrogen Peroxide Thruster

Abstract

Green propellants used for satellite-level propulsion<br> system become attractive in recent years because the non-toxicity and<br> lower requirements of safety protection. One of the green propellants,<br> high-concentration hydrogen peroxide H2O2 solution (≥70% w/w,<br> weight concentration percentage), often known as high-test peroxide<br> (HTP), is considered because it is ITAR-free, easy to manufacture and<br> the operating temperature is lower than traditional monopropellant<br> propulsion. To establish satellite propulsion technology, the National<br> Space Organization (NSPO) in Taiwan has initialized a long-term<br> cooperation project with the National Cheng Kung University to<br> develop compatible tank and thruster. An experimental propulsion<br> payload has been allocated for the future self-reliant satellite to<br> perform orbit transfer and maintenance operations. In the present<br> research, an 1-Newton thruster prototype is designed and the thrusting<br> force is measured by a pendulum-type platform. The preliminary<br> hot-firing test at ambient environment showed the generated thrust and<br> the specific impulse are about 0.7 Newton and 102 seconds,<br> respectively.