US 12,012,234 B2
Electrodeless plasma thruster with closed-ring-shaped gas discharge chamber
Andrei Ivanovich Shumeiko, Abu Dhabi (AE); Firas Salah Jarrar, Abu Dhabi (AE); and Sean Shan Min Swei, Abu Dhabi (AE)
Assigned to Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi (AE)
Appl. No. 17/998,483
Filed by Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi (AE)
PCT Filed Sep. 7, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/058145
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 10, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/037138, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 16, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2023/0271728 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. B64G 1/40 (2006.01); F03H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/405 (2013.01) [F03H 1/0006 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A satellite comprising:
a frame defining an interior area and a satellite power source positioned in the interior area; and
an electrodeless plasma thruster with a closed-ring-shaped gas discharge chamber at least partially positioned within the interior area, the electrodeless plasma thruster comprising:
the closed-ring-shaped gas discharge chamber;
a guide tube having a first end coupled with the closed-ring-shaped gas discharge chamber and a second open end;
an antenna positioned on an exterior of the closed-ring-shaped gas discharge chamber;
a dielectric sleeve with a metallized outer surface positioned on an external surface of the antenna, the dielectric sleeve at least partially surrounding the antenna;
a magnetic system positioned at the second open end of the guide tube;
a propellant storage system in fluid communication with the closed-ring-shaped gas discharge chamber;
a power supply electrically coupled with the magnetic system;
a power converter electrically coupled with the power supply and the propellant storage system; and
a control module electrically coupled with and for controlling the power converter, the propellant storage system, and the power supply, the control module configured to receive data associated with one or more characteristics of the electrodeless plasma thruster.