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Sub-Millimeter C(f)/C Grids For High Power Ion Propulsion Engines

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
51846 		Program Year/Program:
2001 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
NASA1447 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Ceramic Composites, Inc.
133 Defense Highway, Suite 212 Annapolis, MD 21401-8907
View profile »
Woman-Owned: Yes
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2001
Title: Sub-Millimeter C(f)/C Grids For High Power Ion Propulsion Engines
Agency: NASA
Contract: N/A
Award Amount: $69,972.00
 

Abstract:

The high specific impulse and efficiency of ion propulsion thrusters has increased the popularity of these devices for a growing number of proposed missions, such as planetary and deep space, longer station keeping mission lifetimes, and tighter geosynchronous orbit tolerances. Grid erosion is one of the major life limiting phenomena for operating ion thrusters and carbon/carbon composite grids have shown to exhibit at least a 5 fold reduction in the erosion rate.Ceramic Composites Incorporated proposes a novel, low-cost fabrication approach for braided carbon/carbon composite grids with sub-millimeter hole sizes and narrower screen spacing. The thrust per unit beam area is directly proportional to the number of holes in the screen and accelerator grids, thus the smallest possible hole sizes and largest hole density potentially correspond to the maximum thrust density. The high thrust densities enable the accomplishment of a prescribed mission using either smaller thrusters or a smaller number of larger thrusters. A unique approach will be developed to fabricate a woven fiber preform containing sub-millimeter holes, which will be rapidly densified with pyrolytic carbon via chemical vapor infiltration. The grids will be evaluated to determine the ion extraction and other key parameters.

Principal Investigator:

Dr. Mark Patterson
Chief Scientist
4102243710
patterson@techassess.com

Business Contact:

Sharon Fehrnbacher
Vice Presidnet
4102243710
sharon@techassess.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

Ceramic Composites, Inc.
1110 Benfield Blvd. Millersville, MD 21108

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