Abstract: Disclosed is a space cold gas thruster operating with a solid propellant. The cold gas thruster includes a tank suitable for containing a solid propellant and a tank heating device suitable for sublimating the solid propellant and forming gaseous propellant, the tank having an aperture for transferring the gaseous propellant outside the tank, such as a nozzle. Also disclosed is a process for determining the amount of remaining propellant in the propellant tank of the disclosed cold gas thruster.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radio-frequency plasma generating system including a radio-frequency generator and a plasma source, the radio-frequency generator being inductively or capacitively coupled to the plasma source through a resonant electric circuit, the radio-frequency generator being adapted to receive direct current power from a direct current power supply and for generating radio-frequency power at a frequency f, the radio-frequency power including a reactive radio-frequency power oscillating in the resonant electric circuit and an active radio-frequency power absorbed by the plasma. The radio-frequency plasma generating system includes a unit for measuring an efficiency of conversion E of direct-current power to active radio-frequency power absorbed by the plasma and a unit for adjusting the frequency f as a function of the measured efficiency of conversion E to maintain the efficiency of conversion E in a predetermined range within a RF plasma operational range.

Abstract: Disclosed is a space cold gas thruster operating with a solid propellant. The cold gas thruster includes a tank suitable for containing a solid propellant and a tank heating device suitable for sublimating the solid propellant and forming gaseous propellant, the tank having an aperture for transferring the gaseous propellant outside the tank, such as a nozzle. Also disclosed is a process for determining the amount of remaining propellant in the propellant tank of the disclosed cold gas thruster.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radio-frequency plasma generating system including a radio-frequency generator and a plasma source, the radio-frequency generator being inductively or capacitively coupled to the plasma source through a resonant electric circuit, the radio-frequency generator being adapted to receive direct current power from a direct current power supply and for generating radio-frequency power at a frequency f, the radio-frequency power including a reactive radio-frequency power oscillating in the resonant electric circuit and an active radio-frequency power absorbed by the plasma. The radio-frequency plasma generating system includes a unit for measuring an efficiency of conversion E of direct-current power to active radio-frequency power absorbed by the plasma and a unit for adjusting the frequency f as a function of the measured efficiency of conversion E to maintain the efficiency of conversion E in a predetermined range within a RF plasma operational range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid or liquid propellant (2) tank (1) for a thruster, the tank (1) comprising means for forming a gas (9) in the tank, the tank (1) having an opening (4) of surface area S for the extraction of a flow (20) of the propellant gas from the tank (1). According to the invention, the tank (1) comprises a propellant gas flow on-off control system comprising a grid (6) arranged opposite the opening (4) of the tank (1), a first thermal regulation system (11, 21) for heating the gas (9) in the tank and a second thermal regulation system (12, 22) for heating the grid (6), said grid (6) including holes of total surface area greater than the surface area S of the opening of the tank (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to an ion thruster, comprising: a chamber, a reservoir, comprising a solid propellant (PS), housed in the chamber and comprising a conductive jacket provided with an orifice; means for forming an ion-electron plasma in the chamber, which means are able to sublime the solid propellant in the reservoir, then to generate said plasma in the chamber from the sublimed propellant coming from the reservoir through the orifice; a means for extracting and accelerating the ions and electrons of the plasma out of the chamber, which means comprises at least two grids at one end (E) of the chamber; a radiofrequency AC voltage source for generating a radiofrequency signal comprised between the plasma frequencies of the ions and of the electrons, arranged in series with a capacitor and connected, by one of its outputs and via this capacitor, to one of the grids, with the other grid being connected to the other output of said voltage source; said means for extracting and accelerating and said voltage

Abstract: The invention relates to an ion thruster, comprising: a chamber, a reservoir, comprising a solid propellant (PS), housed in the chamber and comprising a conductive jacket provided with an orifice; means for forming an ion-electron plasma in the chamber, which means are able to sublime the solid propellant in the reservoir, then to generate said plasma in the chamber from the sublimed propellant coming from the reservoir through the orifice; a means for extracting and accelerating the ions and electrons of the plasma out of the chamber, which means comprises at least two grids at one end (E) of the chamber; a radiofrequency AC voltage source for generating a radiofrequency signal comprised between the plasma frequencies of the ions and of the electrons, arranged in series with a capacitor and connected, by one of its outputs and via this capacitor, to one of the grids, with the other grid being connected to the other output of said voltage source; said means for extracting and accelerating and said voltage

Abstract: A device for forming a quasi-neutral ion-electron beam, including: a chamber; a set of means for forming an ion-electron plasma in the chamber; and means for extracting and accelerating charged particles from the plasma out of the chamber. The particles are capable of forming the beam and the extraction and acceleration means that include a set of at least two grids located at one end of the chamber.

Abstract: A device for forming a quasi-neutral ion-electron beam, including: a chamber; a set of means for forming an ion-electron plasma in the chamber; and means for extracting and accelerating charged particles from the plasma out of the chamber. The particles are capable of forming the beam and the extraction and acceleration means that include a set of at least two grids located at one end of the chamber.