Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers (한국추진공학회지)

The Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers (한국추진공학회)
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Survey on Research and Development of Field Emission Electric Propulsion Thrusters

전계방출 전기추진 추력기 연구개발 현황

  • Park, Jeongjae (Department of Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Bok Jik (Department of Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Jeung, In-Seuck (Department of Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2021.08.04
  • Accepted : 2021.09.10
  • Published : 2021.10.31
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Abstract

As the application of nano-satellites constellation increases worldwide in the wake of New Space era, there is growing demand for the development of thrusters for precise attitude and orbit control of small satellites. Field Emission Electric Propulsion(FEEP) thruster uses a liquid metal as a propellant and accelerates the ionized liquid metal through a strong electric field at the tip of the metal surface. FEEP thruster technology is suitable for nano-satellites which require various missions for attitude and orbit control, because it provides thrust ranging from 1 µN to 1 mN with high specific impulse up to about 10,000 s and can be miniaturized due to its simple structure. In this paper, the basics of FEEP thrusters are introduced, then the current status of research and development of FEEP thrusters are presented.

뉴 스페이스 시대를 맞아 군집 초소형 위성의 활용이 전 세계적으로 증가함에 따라, 위성의 정밀제어를 위한 추력기가 필수적으로 요구되고 있다. 전계방출 전기추진(Field Emission Electric Propulsion, FEEP) 추력기는 추진제로 액체 금속을 사용하는데, 강한 전기장에 의해 이온화된 액체금속을 가속시키는 방식의 추력기이다. FEEP 추력기는 1 µN급에서 1 mN급까지의 추력 범위와 10,000 s 수준에 이르는 큰 비추력을 가지며, 구조가 단순하고 소형화가 가능하여 초소형 위성의 다양한 자세 및 궤도 제어 임무에 적합하다. 본 논문에서는 FEEP 추력기의 개요를 소개하고, 연구개발 현황에 대해서 살펴보고자 한다.

Keywords

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