Colloid thrusters provide micro-newtons of thrust, allowing for precision spacecraft control. In a vacuum, colloid thrusters will emit a cone shaped plume consisting of charged droplets. Previous works have characterized an overall charge-to-mass distribution in this plume, however different regions within the plume have not been studied. This project involved designing and building an instrument that can move a small target in cylindrical coordinates, and can record the information gathered by the target and associated electronics using LabVIEW software.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Schrift, Travis David
• Leland, Matthew Frederic
• Shea, Matthew Robert

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 03D048M

Advisor

• Blandino, John J.

Year

• 2003

Date created

• 2003-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright