T6 ion thruster

The T6 based electric propulsion system is designed to provide extremely efficient station keeping, orbit topping, end of life de-orbit manoeuvres and primary propulsion. The core system, comprising the QinetiQ T6 gridded ion engine, Astrium Crisa Power Supply and Control Unit (PSCU) and Marotta UK Xenon Flow Control Unit (XFCU) has a dynamic range of 50 to 165 mN at a specific impulse between 4000 and 4700 s respectively.

QinetiQ T6 thruster (left), and during operation (right)

Unique design features of the T6 and the facility to switch PSCU functions between two or more thrusters provide exceptional system robustness. System mass, volume and cost are optimised by a highly efficient PSCU design developed from the outset by close collaboration between space power electronics and ion thruster design specialists. Further system simplification is offered by constraining the system throttling range.

The system is designed to be readily adaptable to a range of applications ranging from commercial GEO communications satellites to large interplanetary exploration missions and has been selected by ESA for the AlphaBus programme, and is under consideration for the ESA BepiColombo mission to Mercury.

• Reliable, efficient and robust system
• High power, thrust and SI (throttleable from 30 to 210mN, based on actual thrust measurements)
• Total impulse > 10 x 10E+6 Ns @ 200 mN, 4700 s
• Throttle capability to match power availability
• Cycle life > 8500 On/Off cycles
• Cyclic & continuous operation (station-keeping and primary propulsion)
• Low system mass, volume & cost
• Modular and adaptable system architecture

Images of the QinetiQ T6 in test: simultaneous testing of two thrusters at 200mN (left) and heater array for thermal testing (right).