Search -
Design and Testing of a Hydrogen Peroxide Microelectromechanical Systems Thruster
Design and Testing of a Hydrogen Peroxide Microelectromechanical Systems Thruster Author:Michael A. Thomas This is a AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSONAFB OH report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A485393. The abstract pro... more »vided by the Pentagon follows: Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) fabrication techniques were used to build miniature thrusters from a silicon wafer, drastically reducing the size and volume from conventional techniques. These thrusters incorporate a catalyst within the wafer and are therefore reusable. This project was the first known effort to develop catalytic MEMS thrusters. 85-90% hydrogen peroxide was studied and used as a monopropellant in the thruster design due to its safety advantages over other propellants and the renewed interest in the scientific community. This research effort formulated concepts, performed analysis, and developed fabrication techniques to construct and test a prototype thruster in order to develop the proof-of-concept fundamentals needed for a MEMS monopropellant thruster.« less