Electrospray Thrusters
Busek Co.
Enabling unique missions in space-based science, from detecting gravity waves to stabilizing large observatories, these thrusters offer precise thrust control and efficient operation.
Key figurescomparable across the catalogue
- Power
- 12 W
- Thrust
- 1 N
- Specific impulse
- 850 s
Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.
As published by the supplier
- System Power
- 12 W - 14 W (24 W max)
- Propellant
- Ionic Liquid
- Thrust
- <1uN-150uN range per thruster
- Thrust Noise
- <0.2uN/rtHz
- Specific Impulse
- 850 seconds - 2300 seconds
About
Busek’s Electrospray Thrusters are characterized by precise thrust control (on the order of nano-Newtons) and extremely efficient operation (over 80%). This makes them the superior solution for ultra-precise spacecraft pointing, with pointing accuracy exceeding that of reaction wheels alone by approximately two orders of magnitude. The BET-MAX Electrospray Thruster System offers ultra-precision, highly throttleable electric propulsion with an integrated propellant delivery system, available in high impulse and high thrust configurations. Since 1998, Busek has been a recognized leader in electrospray physics, developing the world’s first flight-qualified electrospray thruster systems for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. These systems included custom power management, digital control interface, and propellant storage and management systems. The extreme precision required the development of new miniature valves and a novel propellant-less carbon nanotube cathode. Busek delivered eight electrospray thruster clusters to NASA’s JPL in 2008 for the NASA/ESA LISA Pathfinder mission, ST7, which successfully launched in 2015 and met 100% of its mission goals, accumulating an average of 2,500 hours of operation per thruster.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.