BET-MAX

Ultra-precision, highly throttleable electric propulsion with integrated propellant delivery system.

Busek's BET-MAX precision reaction control system seeks to provide the high-resolution control afforded by electrospray propulsion technology. Up to four 125cm3 BET-300P thrusters per centralized PPU can be positioned as desired to provide attitude or orbital control within platforms as small as 3U. Each thruster can provide throttled continuous thrust from <1µN up to 150µN with sub-µN resolution over the full range. The thruster modules include propellant storage -sufficient propellant to provide over 100Ns of impulse- and all associated feed components.

Powered by BET-300P.

The BET-MAX system consists of four BET-300-P passively-fed electrospray thrusters, one long-life and propellant-less Carbon Nanotube Field Emission Cathode (CNTFEC), controlled from a common set of electronics. The thrusters can be ganged in a common thrust vector for translational thrust, or easily distributed across a spacecraft for precision pointing applications. When used for attitude control, achievable jitterfree pointing precision is orders of magnitude better than today's best reaction wheels.

An Integrated System.

Flight model power processing unit (PPU) electronics include an integrated digital control interface unit with communication to the spacecraft via RS-422; each PPU is capable of driving up to four thrusters simultaneously, and independently across discrete channels. Spacecraft charge neutralization is achieved using Busek’s patented and flight qualified ½” CNTFEC. Integrated DCIU functionality include both real-time and scripted operation, with integrated thrust control modes.

Mission Applications: