In order to make advancements in the area of propulsion, it is necessary to study the capabilities of current technology. One type of spacecraft propulsion system currently under development is the pulsed plasma thruster (PPT). The goal of this project is to design and fabricate a computer controlled two-axis probe positioning system which can be used to investigate the plume of a PPT operating in a vacuum chamber. The effort was divided into three areas: (1) vacuum chamber refurbishment, (2) mechanical and electrical design of the probe positioning system (PPS), and (3) thermal modeling of the PPT support during thruster operation.

• 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

• Martin, Julie Marie
• Rosen, Daniel Evan
• Hathaway, Ryan Blake
• Flaherty, Adam Walter

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 04D186M

Advisor

• Blandino, John J.

Year

• 2004

Date created

• 2004-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright