Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Edward Lukas

Matthew J Pirih

Daniel R Sherman

Brandon Quon

Jonathan H Dang

Kurt Shaffer

A microwave electrothermal thruster (MET) and its control system is disclosed and claimed. The MET control system uses a dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO) in series with a GaN MMIC-based Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA) to generate microwave energy, transfer it to a thrust chamber, and heat a propellant that exits a nozzle, providing thrust. The control system uses feedback to provide autonomous control of the MET. A wide variety of propellants may be used, including, for example, hydrazine, ammonia, and water.

Control system for a microwave electrothermal thruster

A spacecraft electronics module in which electronics components ( ) are housed in a box ( ) that is mounted directly on a radiator panel structure, which includes a radiator panel ( &prime;) and a thermally conductive backing panel ( ). The radiator panel structure is secured in such a way that the conductive backing panel ( ) serves as a baseplate for the box ( ) and heat from the electronics components is, therefore, conducted as directly as possible to the radiator panel ( &prime;). Maintenance or replacement of the electronics components is effected without removal of the box from its installed location, by instead removing the radiator panel structure to permit direct access to components in the box.

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Encino, CA, United States of America

Edward Lukas