Spacecraft/Satellite thrusters, proplusion systems and retro thrusters etc.

[Indx TechStyle]

Timeline of LPSC

 

[Indx TechStyle]

For anyone wondering what kind of things I'm posting, so these are power systems on aircraft.
Off any purpose like

• Thrusters pushing satellites into MEO from LEO, GEO from GTO, EPO to Lunar, Venusian or Martian orbits or de-orbiting satellites to be destroyed on purpose.
• Retro thrusters of landing spacecrafts like landers and rovers.
• Engines within aircrafts with fuel to work as power source.

Thread will summarise will be updated on all conventional, ion thrusters, systems on landers and rovers and power sources like conventional and nuclear batteries (RTEG) etc. being developed and used in India.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

For visual reference:
NASA's Lunar Orbiter LADEE with thrusters;

ISRO's IRNSS1F during integration

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Malfunction of retro thrusters being used to put "brakes" on spacecraft and lower the falling speed was what did not let Vikram lander soft land on the surface of Moon.

CHANDRAYAAN-2 LANDER ACTUATOR PERFORMANCE TEST (LAPT PHASE-2) - ISRO

The Lander Actuator Performance Test (LAPT) is one of the crucial tests required to be demonstrated for a successful soft and safe landing of Vikram (Chandrayaan-2 Lander). To carry out this test, an LAPT module which is a scaled down version of Vikram with all the required hardware was realised...

www.isro.gov.in

And hence, Chandrayaan-3 had been modified to have only 4 instead of 5 retro-thrusters to maintain easier stability.

Chandrayaan-3: No 5th engine on lander | India News - Times of India

India News: BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), which is working on Chandrayaan-3, its proposed Moon landing mission conceived after Chandra.

m.timesofindia.com

 

[Indx TechStyle]

GSAT-4 had partial ion propulsion systems (Hall effect thrusters) but was destroyed in GSLV D3 failure.

GSAT-9 (now SAARC satellite) had partial power from 4 plasma and electric thrusters.

GSAT-20 (now CMS03) to be launched sometime in 2021 will be full electric.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Old EOI from 2017

https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/tenders/pteoi-10.pdf

Once India masters ion propulsion tech, all of future Indian satellites will based on ion and plasma thrusters instead of mini liquid-fueled rockets on satellites.

 

[Lonewolf]

Old EOI from 2017

https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/tenders/pteoi-10.pdf

View attachment 81518

Once India masters ion propulsion tech, all of future Indian satellites will based on ion and plasma thrusters instead of mini liquid-fueled rockets on satellites.

Electronic thruster ?

 

[fire starter]

Old EOI from 2017

https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/tenders/pteoi-10.pdf

View attachment 81518

Once India masters ion propulsion tech, all of future Indian satellites will based on ion and plasma thrusters instead of mini liquid-fueled rockets on satellites.

Do u have any idea which type of plasma thruster is used.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

ISRO plans new propulsion for deep space missions

MUMBAI: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is exploring the possibility of developing a new propulsion technology to fuel spacecraft for its future deep space missions.

On January 28, Isro’s UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru issued an invitation for ‘expression of interest’ for “design and modelling; simulation and analysis; testing and qualification of 100W Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTEG) without radio isotope.’’ Isro calls it alpha source thermoelectric propulsion technology.

RTEG will have less mass than solar cells of equivalent power and allow more compact spacecraft that can navigate easier in space. Many missions of Nasa and Russia, Besides China’s 2013 Chang’e 3 mission to the moon and its rover Yutu had used RTG.

Former Isro chairman AS Kiran Kumar said RTEG is futuristic. “It will be useful for long duration missions where alternative energy is not available,” he said. After another Mars mission, Isro could be eyeing Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus.

According to the Isro document, “the development of RTEG is taken up as it is envisaged that it will be a part of Isro’s deep space missions for power generation and thermal management.”

According to the document, the system should be capable of operating in vaccum conditions of deep space, dusty, carbon dioxide-rich and corrosive environments. Isro says the RTG’s weight should be 20 kgs or less, with a life span of 20 years or more and survive indefinitely without damage when stored in the atmosphere at temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius.

Emphasising on safety standards, the document says, “It should be safe for human handling in close vicinity under all conditions even with nuclear fuel concealed inside … the unit should be resilient to any pre-launch or post-launch explosion so as to not cause any nuclear contamination in the environment.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Electronic thruster ?

*Electric thrusters, ion and plasma are two of its types

Do u have any idea which type of plasma thruster is used.

Don't know, I do not have access to or found any detailed report so far.

 

[asaffronladoftherisingsun]

Very commendable @Indx TechStyle commander.

 

[fire starter]

I think that ion thruster is currently used plasma based thruster is under development.

Meanwhile isro was going to test plasma thruster developed by start up.

This B'luru Startup Helps ISRO Set up Satellites in a Cheap, Eco-friendly Manner

Founded in February 2015, the Bengaluru based startup develops propulsion systems and orbital launch vehicles for satellites.

www.google.com

 

[Indx TechStyle]

I think that ion thruster is currently used plasma based thruster is under development.

Meanwhile isro was going to test plasma thruster developed by start up.

This B'luru Startup Helps ISRO Set up Satellites in a Cheap, Eco-friendly Manner

Founded in February 2015, the Bengaluru based startup develops propulsion systems and orbital launch vehicles for satellites.

www.google.com

ISRO already has its own plasma thrusters on GSAT-9, those being developed by private sector may be of different type or being reinvented.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

ISRO plans new propulsion for deep space missions

Nascent RTEGs already in development by BARC. Thanks @mandestiny for finding this;

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Once ready, ISRO will be able to send missions to external planets like upto Uranus or Pluto and further beyond solar system missions like RTEG.

 

[fire starter]

ISRO already has its own plasma thrusters on GSAT-9, those being developed by private sector may be of different type or being reinvented.

I think new type of plasma thruster is also under development.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

I think new type of plasma thruster is also under development.
View attachment 81553

May be. Except GSAT-20 (to be launched) and GSAT-4 (rocket failed), other 2 satellites are already in orbit.