Design and Verification of Delfi-PQ Satellite Propulsion Sub-system: Experimental Analysis and Design Improvements of the Technology Demonstration Payload for Micro-Thrusters

AE faculty at TU Delft is currently developing a PocketQube satellite under the name of Delfi-PQ. Following the previous study, performed on a high level systems engineering on Delfi-PQ propulsion sub-system, there is a need to verify the propulsion sub-system's design, its final operational envelope values, and propulsion sub-system's requirements by using TEST and ANALYSIS methods. Leak, volume and mass, solenoid valve PWM, and heater efficiency tests have been performed. The verification tests of the propulsion sub-system design provided a lot of valuable information. Not only some of the its requirements have been verified, but also the underlying issues have been observed, registered, and described for future researchers who are going to test such a micro-propulsion system and optimize its design.Aerospace Engineerin

Design of a Micro-Propulsion Subsystem for a PocketQube

This papers gives an insight on different sub topics related to a micro-propulsion subsystem for a PocketQube. First, PocketQubes will be introduced and then Delfi-PQ will be presented, providing an overview of the mission for which this micro-propulsion system will be used. Step by step, the paper will explain the subsystem, its challenges, mechanical aspects, electronics aspects and future work. In the long term, these miniaturized micro-propulsion systems might play an important role for micro satellites for attitude control, low-altitude orbital maintenance, formation flying, orbital transfer and several other potential applications.Clean RoomAstrodynamics & Space MissionsSpace Systems EgineeringSpace Engineerin