R&D, Walkthroughs, Updates, and System Builds
Many thanks to the Stanford Student Space Initiative for hosting a fantastic panel last night on in-space propulsion! Lots of great questions and discussions during the panel, as well as excellent tech and market insights from the other invited panelists from Apollo Fusion, Frontier … Continued
The new 3D printed parts for the upcoming EHT1 Micro End-Hall Thruster build arrived from Xometry! These include the housings for both the GDN1 Glow Discharge Hollow Cathode Neutralizer as well as the PFV1 Piezoelectric Fuel Valve. This is my … Continued
Last night I ran the fourth sublimation and glow discharge ionization test of Adamantane in vacuum for the AIS ADAMANT Series development. Reference to prior test recaps can be found below: TEST 1 TEST 2 TEST 3 For this test, … Continued
With the parts finally in for the first AIS-SFDS Sublimation Fuel Delivery System build, it’s time to test fit everything together! All the parts for the SFDS are laid out prior to assembly. The entire system itself is a very … Continued
After a week of working on a solution for controlled Adamantane fuel delivery, I have come up with the first prototype design – the AIS-PFV1, a compact low-power piezo-actuated fuel valve designed to interface between the Sublimation Fuel Delivery System … Continued
On Sunday night I ran the third sublimation and glow discharge ionization test of Adamantane in vacuum for the AIS-ADAMANT Series development. Details of the first test can be found HERE, and details of the second test can be found … Continued
First set of plates finally arrived for the AIS-SFDS-3 Sublimation Fuel Delivery System build! These plates include heater contact plates, fuel presser plates, and fuel distribution plates. Have to clean them up a bit, then can finally complete the first … Continued
The first stainless steel heater cartridge for the Sublimation Fuel Delivery System is in! First time ordering a CNC part through Xometry and I couldn’t be happier, it came out flawless! This tiny cartridge for the AIS-SFDS-3 build can hold … Continued
Last night I ran the second ever sublimation and glow discharge ionization test of Adamantane in vacuum for the AIS-ADAMANT Series development, exploring the use of this highly experimental fuel for low-power micro-ion and plasm thrusters. Details of the first … Continued
Last night I ran the first ever sublimation and glow discharge ionization test of Adamantane in vacuum. This test not only provided crucial preliminary information for the ADAMANT Series development, but proved to be a major breakthrough in the effort … Continued