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Simple Colloid Thruster for Generating Precise Impulse Thrust

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Missile Defense Agency 		Award ID:
69511 		Program Year/Program:
2004 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
B041-019-0902 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Busek Co. Inc.
11 Tech Circle Natick, MA -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2004
Title: Simple Colloid Thruster for Generating Precise Impulse Thrust
Agency / Branch: DOD / MDA
Contract: FA9300-04-M-3102
Award Amount: $99,910.00
 

Abstract:

For this Phase I SBIR, we propose to design, fabricate, and test a colloid thruster integrated with an on/off microvalve. The design leverages Busek's accumulated expertise in colloid thruster development, gained through NASA's ST7 project, toward developing a general-purpose, flexible, and miniaturized micropropulsion system. Busek has already demonstrated a flight-viable colloid thruster architecture with Isp of ~500s, efficiencies of up to 70% (depending upon operating mode), thrust ratio greater than 20:1, minimum thrust of 0.15 microNewtons, 0.001 microNewton controllable thrust resolution, and lifetime of 2500 hours with no deterioration in performance. We shall develop the prototype design with an eye toward modularity and scalability, with the objective of providing a single thruster system with large dynamic thrust range, up to milliNewtons, while maintaining micro- and nano- Newton thrust resolution. Our Phase I effort shall focus primarily upon a simplified system of a single colloid thruster and valve, focusing upon integration of valve and thruster into a single package. Performance testing on a thrust stand shall be performed to verify the design as well as demonstrate and measure operation in an `impulse bit' mode.

Principal Investigator:

Vlad Hruby
President
5086555565
vhruby@busek.com

Business Contact:

Judy Budny
Contracts Administrator
5086555565
judy@busek.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

BUSEK CO., INC.
11 Tech Circle Natick, MA 01760

EIN/Tax ID: 042881247
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No