Patents Assigned to Benchmark Space Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11644016
    Abstract: A pulsed metal plasma thruster (MPT) cube has a plurality of thrusters, each having a first cathode electrode and a trigger electrode separated from the first electrode by an insulator sufficient to support an initiation plasma, and a porous anode electrode positioned a separation distance from the face of all of the cathode electrodes. The cathode electrode can be either the inner electrode or the outer electrode. A power supply delivers a high voltage pulse to the trigger electrode with respect to the cathode electrode sufficient to initiate a plasma on the surface of the insulator. The plasma transfers between the anode electrode and cathode electrode of selected thrusters, thereby generating a pulse of thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Benchmark Space Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahadevan Krishnan, Katherine M. Velas