SBIR Phase I: ThermaSat - A Solar Thermal CubeSat Propulsion System

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是解决了对空间中具有机载推进能力的小型低成本卫星的需求。小卫星的出现为企业家和研究人员提供了改善电信、监测气候模式和开展其他活动的空间。不幸的是，许多这样的小卫星没有办法在太空中机动，因此它们的能力是有限的。卫星推进使小卫星能够实现三个主要目标。首先，它们可以在不转移发射航天器的情况下到达首选轨道。其次，它们可以在多年的时间里对轨道进行微小的调整，确保它们不会过早地重新进入大气层。第三，在任务结束时，它们可以自己脱离轨道，避免成为危险的太空碎片。机载推进系统将是未来卫星基础设施所必需的。现在通过发展这项技术，我们可以克服太空探索的一个主要障碍，帮助人类向恒星扩张。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目是开发一种绿色、廉价和有效的小卫星推进系统。为立方体卫星和其他小型航天器配备机载推进装置将大大提高它们的技术能力，并确保它们的部署、运行和脱轨安全。该系统的功能是通过选择性地过滤阳光，通过限制辐射热排放将水加热到高温。高温蒸汽通过喷嘴排出，可以高效地控制卫星。这项工作的主要目标将是实验和计算模拟光学系统的性能。其他目标将是验证热系统和结构系统是否适合地面发射和太空运行。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project addresses the need for small, low-cost satellites in space to have on-board propulsion capabilities. The advent of small satellites is opening space to entrepreneurs and researchers to improve telecommunications, monitor climate patterns, and conduct other activities. Unfortunately, many of these small satellites have no method of maneuvering in space, and so their capabilities are limited. Satellite propulsion allows for small satellites to achieve three major goals. First, they can reach their preferred orbit without diverting the launching spacecraft. Second, they can make minor adjustments to their orbits for many years, ensuring they do not re-enter the atmosphere prematurely. And third, at the end of the mission they can de-orbit themselves and avoid becoming dangerous space debris. An onboard propulsion system will be necessary for the satellite infrastructure of the future. By developing this technology now, we can overcome a major obstacle in space exploration and assist humanity in expanding to the stars. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project is to develop a green, inexpensive, and effective small satellite propulsion system. Equipping CubeSats and other small spacecraft with onboard propulsion will drastically improve their technological capabilities and ensure they deploy, function, and de-orbit safely. The system functions by selectively filtering sunlight to heat water to high temperatures by limiting radiative heat emissions. The high-temperature steam is exhausted through a nozzle and can control the satellite with high efficiency. The major goal of this effort will be to experimentally and computationally model optical system performance. Other goals will be to validate that the thermal and structural systems are suitable for ground launch and operation in space.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.