High Performance Nitrous Oxide MET, Phase I

This proposal seeks to address the topic of developing an on-board propulsion device which will significantly increase capabilities and reduce costs for Earth science spacecraft. The propulsion device which is proposed here is a microwave powered, electrothermal thruster which will utilized nitrous-oxide as a propellant. The device is referred to a MET-100, a Microwave Electrothermal Thruster which has a nominal power output of 150 W. The thruster will utilized 300 W of spacecraft power and develop a specific impulse of 300 seconds. More »