Curtis A Woodruff

Title: **Curtis A. Woodruff: Innovating the Future of Space Propulsion**

Introduction

Curtis A. Woodruff, an inventor based in Urbana, IL, has made significant contributions to the field of space propulsion technology. With a total of five patents to his name, Woodruff is recognized for his innovative designs that push the boundaries of existing thruster systems.

Latest Patents

One of Woodruff’s latest inventions is the Fiber-fed Advanced Pulsed Plasma Thruster (FPPT). This sophisticated thruster features an anode, a coaxial insulator, and a fiber propellant feed system, allowing for enhanced performance. The design incorporates at least two insulated cathodes strategically placed around the coaxial insulator, forming a nozzle region. Within this configuration, igniters are fitted through each cathode, which, when triggered, expel electrons towards the anode. This interaction ignites a primary high-energy discharge that vaporizes the fiber propellant. The outcome is a mixture of dissociated fiber propellant and plasma, which generates thrust through electromagnetic and electrothermal acceleration.

The FPPT also utilizes a motor to feed PTFE fiber into the discharge region, providing high propellant throughput and a variable exposed fuel area. The system features a highly parallel ceramic capacitor bank that lowers specific mass, contributing to improved efficiency. Testing has shown impulse bits (I-bits) ranging from 0.057 to 0.241 mN-s with a specific impulse between 900 and 2400 s, marking significant advancements in pulsed plasma thruster technology. A 1 U (10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm, or 1 liter) volume FPPT thruster package is capable of delivering a total impulse of 2900 to 7700 N-s, offering 0.6 to 1.6 km/s delta-V for a 5 kg CubeSat. Notably, variations of the design can achieve even higher performance metrics.

Career Highlights

Curtis A. Woodruff is currently employed by Cu Aerospace, LLC, where his innovative work in propulsion systems is paving the way for future advancements in space exploration. His contributions to the field have been recognized for their ingenuity and practical applications in satellite technology and beyond.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Woodruff has collaborated with notable colleagues including Rodney L. Burton and David Loren Carroll. These partnerships have facilitated the exchange of ideas and expertise, fostering an environment conducive to innovation in aerospace technology.

Conclusion

Curtis A. Woodruff's inventive spirit and dedication to advancing space propulsion technologies position him as a leading figure in the realm of aerospace innovation. With his groundbreaking work on the Fiber-fed Advanced Pulsed Plasma Thruster, Woodruff continues to inspire future inventors and engineers to explore the possibilities of propulsion systems in space applications.