Magdrive Pulsed Power System for Advanced Satellite Propulsion

Magdrive公司正在为小型卫星开发一种革命性的太空推进系统。该系统将以电力推进的高效率运行，同时提供目前主导市场的化学推进系统所具有的高推力优势。这可以通过提高燃料效率来降低卫星发射成本，使未来的卫星运营商免受强制脱离轨道的立法的影响，并实现新的任务类型，例如与更大的卫星会合，星座管理和在极低地球轨道上的操作。磁驱推进器的小尺寸将允许小卫星用于更多的应用，降低空间应用的成本和进入这个行业的门槛。除了满足老牌运营商的需求外，这将允许较小的公司、初创企业和大学以较小的预算在太空执行任务，有助于推动英国在太空领域的创新。Magdrive已经加入了欧洲航天局商业孵化中心，并获得了Entrepreneur First的风险投资支持。随着第一个组件原型的完成，Magdrive已经达到了一个重要的里程碑。多亏了韦斯科特商业孵化中心的资助，这才成为可能。Magdrive已经展示了使用小型化和紧凑的脉冲功率系统来为Magdrive推进器创建等离子体。这种等离子体是在真空中产生的，并由专门设计的磁线圈产生磁场。

Magdrive is developing a revolutionary space propulsion system for small satellites. This system will operate with the high efficiency of electric propulsion while providing the high thrust advantage seen with chemical propulsion systems which still currently dominate the market. This allows for cheaper satellite launch through improved fuel efficiency, future-proofing satellite operators against legislation to enforce de-orbiting, and enable new mission types such as rendezvousing with larger satellites, constellation management, and operations in very low Earth orbit.The small size of the Magdrive thruster will allow for small satellites to be used for significantly more applications, reducing the cost of space applications and the barriers to entry to this industry. As well as servicing the needs of established operators, this will allow smaller companies, start-ups and universities to conduct missions in space on smaller budgets, helping to drive UK innovation in space.Magdrive has joined the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre and has secured VC backing from Entrepreneur First.Magdrive has reached a major milestone with the completion of its first component prototype. This has been possible thanks to a grant from the Westcott Business Incubation Centre. Magdrive has demonstrated the use of a miniaturised and compact pulsed power system to create the plasma for the Magdrive thruster. This plasma has been created in a vacuum and contained with magnetic fields generated by specifically designed magnetic coils.