Next Generation RF Thruster Shows Performance Improvements

A next generation RF thruster for satellite propulsion has shown significant performance improvements over its predecessor, according to manufacturer Phase Four.

"We have a specific focus on optimizing radio-frequency thruster performance and scaling the system to over 1 kW of input power to meet the demands of government and commercial spacecraft."

Phase Four CTO, Umair Siddiqui.

The next generation RF thruster, which will be at the core of the Maxwell Block 2 engine, has demonstrated more than 13 mN of thrust and over 700 s of specific impulse (Isp) at 500 Watts of input power. This represents an overall 85%+ performance improvement from the company's first generation thruster.

"Over the past 2 years our primary focus has been bringing our Maxwell engine to market," said Phase Four CTO, Umair Siddiqui. "Now that we have expanded our production and engineering teams, we are able to focus more on rapid iteration and testing of higher performance thrusters, including thrusters that offer multiple modes of operation on any propellant. We have a specific focus on optimizing radio-frequency thruster performance and scaling the system to over 1 kW of input power to meet the demands of government and commercial spacecraft. We are developing the system such that a single thruster could offer a high thrust mode and a high specific impulse mode, to provide a full spectrum of maneuverability from collision avoidance to multiple orbit changes - all with the same thruster. This will result in a true 'multi-mode' propulsion system for a variety of mission applications."

Phase Four's Maxwell Block 1 engine gained flight heritage in 2021 and is currently operating on several commercial small satellites. The company has also demonstrated industry leading production and delivery times of under four months through 3 production runs this year. To date the company has built and delivered over 10 Maxwell engine flight units. The Maxwell Block 2 engine incorporates the next generation RF Thruster and new high performance electronics that are designed and built in-house. Block 2 production is set to begin in the first quarter of 2022. This engine offers more flexibility to customers and addresses a larger segment of the high growth small satellite industry.

"Now that the company is vertically integrated, we can move much faster on the development of higher performance engines," said Phase Four CEO, Beau Jarvis. "Even though legacy plasma propulsion technologies have a 50+ year head start, our rapid development strategy will lead Phase Four to meet and exceed legacy technology performance in a relatively short period of time. Furthermore, our engines are designed to be manufactured at scale on short production timelines, which legacy electric propulsion is not. We will meet the rapidly growing demand for small satellite propulsion with increasingly higher performance engines that offer satellite operators a wide range of maneuverability on orbit."

(Images provided with Phase Four news release)