Heater Chip with Different Microchannels Geometries for a Low Pressure Free Molecular Micro-Resistojet

This paper presents a dynamic system approach for the modeling of fluid flow in microchannels to be used in thrust control applications. A micro-resistojet fabricated using MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) technology has been selected for the analysis. The device operates by vaporizing a liquid propellant, in this case water, and expelling...

Green micro-resistojet research at Delft University of Technology: the new frontiers of Cubesat propulsion

The aerospace industry is recently expressing a growing interest in green, safe and non-toxic propellants for the propulsion systems of the new generation of space vehicles, which is especially true in the case of Cubesat micro-propulsion systems. Demanding requirements are associated to the future missions and challenges offered by this class...

Development and Performance of the 10 kN Hybrid Rocket Motor for the Stratos II Sounding Rocket

This paper presents the development work of the 10 kN hybrid rocket motor DHX-200 Aurora. The DHX-200 Aurora was developed by Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering (DARE) to power the Stratos II and Stratos II+ sounding rocket, with the later one being launched in October 2015. Stratos II and Stratos II+ are the flagship projects of DARE, a student...

Cryogenic rocket engine development at Delft aerospace rocket engineering

This paper describes the current developments regarding cryogenic rocket engine technology at Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering (DARE). DARE is a student society based at Delft University of Technology with the goal of being the first student group in the world to launch a rocket into space. After the launch of the hybrid engine powered Stratos...

Design, Fabrication, Testing and Modeling of a Vaporizing Liquid Micro-Propulsion System

In the last decade, CubeSat development has shown the potential to allow for low-risk, low-cost space missions. To further improve the capabilities of CubeSats in large scale missions, a novel micro-propulsion system is being developed at Delft University of Technology. The system is based on a Vaporizing Liquid Microthruster (VLM), which is...

Design, Simulation and Optimisation of a Low-Pressure Micro-Resistojet for Small Satellite Missions

Incorporating propulsion in small satellites is becoming a growing trend, due to its potential for enabling new and ambitious mission objectives. One of these objectives is formation flying, that will be pursued by TU Delft for the DelFFi mission as part of the larger QB50 project. For DelFFi, two identical spacecraft will use propulsion to...

Micro-propulsion research; challenges towards future nano-satellite projects

The Space Systems Engineering department at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering is hard at work miniaturizing satellite subsystems to accommodate the growing use of small satellites. One of the challenges the department has taken on is research into micro-propulsion. The limitations that come with small satellites make research in this !eld...