Thruster Options for Microspacecraft: A Review an Evaluation of Stateof-the-Art and Emerging Technologies, volume 187

State-of-the-art thruster technologies are reviewed and evaluated in view of potential microspacecraft applications. Microspacecraft are defined in this study as spacecraft with masses between 1 and 20 kg. Based on this review of existing technologies, future development needs for micropropulsion systems are defined and advanced new micropropulsion concepts especially designed with microspacecraft applications in mind are introduced. Of the state-of-the-art technologies, hydrazine thrusters and small solid rocket motors appear applicable t o some microspacecraft. Cold gas systems may provide near-term solutions to attitude control, at the expense of leakage concerns and large and heavy propellant tankage. New thruster concepts, heavily relying on advanced microfabrication technologies have been designed and built at JPL, addressing some of the microspacecraft design challenges, and are introduced