This proposal addresses a low cost, micro-electric propulsion technology for microspacecraft. The novel technology proposed can potentially fulfill NASA requirements to develop a miniaturized propulsion system in support of microspacecraft planetary, space physics and Earth science missions. To overcome the disadvantages and processing limitations of current electric propulsion techniques, an innovative micro-electric propulsion concept is proposed based on electrohydrodynamic (EHD) emission and acceleration of multiply charged micro-cluster beams. A primary objective of the proposed effort, using simulated MEM micro-cluster emitters, is to demonstrate specific impulses of = 1000 s using surface tension feed, valveless operation and temperature control of a glycerol propellant. Another objective is to demonstrate that beam neutralization can be achieved by the simultaneous emission of both positively and negatively charged micro-clusters. It is anticipated that by eliminating bulky and power consuming electron emissive neutralizers, component miniaturization for future microspacecraft will be simplified.The approach presented in this proposal is unique since it provides the potential to achieve order-of-magnitude reductions in mass, size and thrust for micropropulsion components. Moreover, the micro-cluster approach addresses the MEM's material compatibility issue and meets the conditions for potential microspacecraft masses less than 1 kg.
