One of the major and primary goals of Applied Ion Systems is to explore and develop low-cost, reliable, open-source electric propulsion for CubeSat and small satellite applications, and show how such engine design and testing could be approached at a … Continued
In the previous blog post, I covered the preliminary assembly and rough vacuum testing of the new high vacuum pumping assembly. The roughing pump still checked out at its calibration baseline of 13 millitorr, with the assembly reaching an ultimate … Continued
In the previous blog post, I covered some of the modifications needed for the newly manufactured vacuum adapter plates, which primarily consisted of using Loctite to secure alloy steel set screw studs into the blind tapped holes on the plates … Continued
After a year’s worth of redesign, waiting, and planning out the system, the adapter plates for the Integrated High Vacuum Test Stand were finally machined and ready to go. These were the last major parts needed for the high vacuum … Continued