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Micropropulsion Technologies 263

TABLE 11.10
Hydrogen Peroxide Thruster Characteristics

130 sec
I sp
Power <1W
I-bit <1 mNsec
Thrust 1 mN
Thrust or power 1 mN/W
Impulse or prop. 1 Nsec/g
Feed mechan. No
Mass <100 g

of the micro-hydrogen-peroxide system is shown in Table 11.10, with a picture of
an assembled thruster shown in Figure 11.24.

11.4 RADIOISOTOPE PROPULSION

Another propulsion system worth discussing is radioisotope propulsion. 51 This kind
of propulsion is one of the simplest systems that can be found and therefore, it
should be introduced briefly. It is essentially a radioactive isotope emitting alpha
particles. The amount of propulsion obtained can be adjusted by shielding the
radioactive material or exposing it. Thrust obtainable can be adjusted from nN to
mN by adjusting the kind and the mass of propellant used.

FIGURE 11.24 Hydrogen peroxide thruster (Source: University of Vermont.)

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