Description
CUA has developed an electrothermal thruster which consumes an inert polymer propellant fiber. This technology retains performance characteristics competitive with other warm gas systems, but enables more accessibility to micro propulsion via dramatically reduced cost and the elimination of range safety concerns. CUA’s Monofilament Vaporization Propulsion (MVP) draws from extrusion 3D printer technology to feed and melt polymer propellant in preparation for evaporation and heating up to 1000K using CUA’s micro-resist jet technology. Despite undergoing depolymerization and two separate phase changes, the system power requirements are manageable, demonstrating typical specific thrusts of 0.16 mN/W, and a maximum specific impulse in excess of 100 s. System performance contained in a 1U package is 540 N-s total impulse from 660 g of Delrin monofilament propellant, operating at 35 W, 6.7 mN, and 83 s Isp.
CU Aerospace – MPV
