Ion thruster optimization for low thrust station keeping

The aim of herein project is to provide an optimum station keeping strategy and thruster configuration using low thrust propulsion. An ion thruster will be considered to carry out said mission so an analytical model will be set to study it. Using Brophy's Ion thruster performance model to predict power and propellant requirements of herein considered ion thruster, correction strategy will be analytically studied in terms of mass penalization, depending on propellant needed on-board and power requirements as they impact on solar arrays and supply systems design. Once these correction parameters will be provided, the thruster will be optimized for said concrete requirements.

Autorentext

After graduating at the Polytechnical University of Catalonia as Aeronautical engineer with this hereby presented project as Master Thesis I started to work as Product Design Engineer for the automotive industry.