Final Year Project Presentation

on
Cubesat In-Space Propulsion

Department of Aeronautical Engineering

Shree Devi Institute of Technology
Mangalore Karnataka-574142

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 Authors
Irfan Mujawar
Syed Abdul Razack
Jayashree G K
Go vind
(BEStudents,SDIT
Mangalore)

Under the Guidance

Mr.IshwaraGowdaVPatil
Assistant PDept
rrf
,eso of AE,SDIT Mangalore

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 ABSTRACT
The propulsion system is the primary mobility system of a spacecraft that
helps with orbit modifications and attitude control with the help of power
developed by thrusters. In this project we are designing a new propulsion
module for a 3U cubesat that will be used for de-orbiting and collision
avoidance in space. One of the unique features that we will be inculcating
in our project will be propulsion using green propellants that will be eco-
friendly and produce less toxic gases. Hence, we have used a bipropellant,
a mixture of Propene and Nitrous oxide with zero toxicity. The
bipropellant used being an autogenous system does not need an additional
pressurizing system. Due to these features our propulsion module uses
only 1U space of the cubesat saving 2U for other systems.

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 INTRODUCTION
• A CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite for space
research that is made up of multiple cubic modules of
10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm size.
• CubeSats are put into orbit by deployers on the
International Space Station, or launched as secondary
payloads on a launch vehicle.

Different Cubesat Units 4

Cubesat Deployment
Applications:
• CubeSats are now commonly used in low Earth orbit
for applications such as Forecasting a cyclone,
Television, Remote sensing and communications.
Size Comparison:
• some you can hold in your hand while others like
IRS-1B are as big as a school bus.

Cubesat In Human Hands IRS-1B 5

 Why cubesat need propulsion
system?
• Primary Mobility
• Maneuverability.
• Collision Avoidance.
• Orbit Modifications.
• Attitude Control.

Interesting Facts
• Green propellant(Nitrous oxide and Propene)
• Self pressurizing.
• It's safer and more efficient.
• Small Size. 6
Objectives
• To design a 3U cubesat propulsion module using a
green bi-propellant for a de-orbit mission.
• To analyze the design in different software and check
validity.
• To do a Comparative study between obtained results
and previously available literatures.

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Literature Survey
• Filippo Maggi: From this paper we could find about
hydrazine as toxic, propene and nitrous oxide as green
propellant.
• Tomasz Palacz: explains the physics of the oxidizer
N2O such as its density variation with temperature, that
it can be stored in closed tank with coexisting both
liquid and gaseous phases and the phenomenon called
self-pressurization.
• Zachary Thicksten: Through years of hands on use,
and research into the properties of nitrous oxide,
spacedev has created a set of guidelines on how to
design, clean, and inspect systems using nitrous oxide.
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• IAC 2018:
The work set out to design and characterize chemical
propulsion systems interplanetary cubeSat to escape
Earth mission analysis was performed to calculate the
necessary ∆V.
• Micheal M.Micci AIAA:
The combination of extremely low specific impulse and

heavy, high-pressure propellant tanks results in

unreasonably high total propulsion system mass values
even though the thrusters themselves can be quite
small.

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• George P. Sutton:
The concept of the maximum attainable flight
velocity increment. The principle of chemical
reaction or combustion of one or more fuels with one
or more oxidizing reactants is the basis of chemical
rocket propulsion. The book is also know as “Bible”
of rocket.
• Dawn Aerospace:
Green bi-propellant thrusters provide a modular and
extensible architecture for spacecraft builders to
achieve their specific mission requirements.
Configurable for satellites of all classes.

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Calculations:
• Pressure:

• Gas Constant:

• Specific Impulse:

• Mass Flow Rate:

• Throat Area:

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• Diameter of the nozzle throat and exit:

• Thrust:

• Characteristic Velocity:

• Volume of the chamber:

• Delta v and dry mass:

• Area and length of the chamber:

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Software used:

• NASA CEA

Figure 1:First page of CEA Figure 2:Pressure Figure 3:Fuel

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Figure 4:Propene Figure 5:Oxidizer Figure 6:O/F

Figure 7:Exit condition Figure 8:Equi&frozen Figure 9:Output

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Final output cea values 15
RPA(Rocket Propulsion Analysis)

Figure 1:Interface Figure 2:Engine definition Figure 3:Propellant

Specification

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Figure 4:Nozzle flow Figure 5: Chamber Figure 6:Chamber size&
Model Performance Geometry

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Final output rpa values

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Structure Design:
CATIA V5 R21

Height (50mm)&Radius(22mm)
Figure :Fuel Tank
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Height(60mm)&Radius(30mm)

Figure 2:Oxidizer Tank

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 Length(65mm)&Radius(3.5mm)

Figure 3:Thrust Chamber & Nozzle

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 Height(300mm)&Width(100mm)
Figure 4: Arrangement of propulsion system
in 3U cubesat

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 ANALYSIS

Figure :Stress Analysis of fuel tank Al 6063-T Figure :Deformation Analysis of Fuel Tank Al 6063-T

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Figure : Stress Analysis of fuel tank Ti-6Al-4V Figure :Deformation Analysis of fuel tank Ti-6Al-4V
Figure: Stress Analysis of oxidizer tank 0.8mm Figure:Deformation Analysis of oxidizer tank 0.8mm
thickness Al 6063-T thickness Al 6063-T

Figure: Stress Analysis of oxidizer tank 0.8mm Figure 6.7 Deformation Analysis of oxidizer tank
thickness Ti-6Al-4V 0.8mm thickness Ti-6Al-4V 24
Figure : Stress Analysis of oxidizer tank 1.5mm Figure :Deformation Analysis of oxidizer tank 1.5mm
thickness Al 6063-T6 thickness Al 6063-T

Figure :Stress Analysis of oxidizer tank 1.5mm

Figure :Deformation Analysis of oxidizer tank 25
thicknessTi-6Al-4V 1.5mm thicknessTi-6Al-4V
Result comparison:
CEA Calculated
Terms RPA Value Units
Value Value
Pc 7 7 7 bar
Pt 3.9 3.9 3.9 bar
γ throat) 1.2567 - 1.256
γ(exit) 1.1224 - 1.122
R gas
- 0.3215 0.321 kJ/(kg.K)
(exit)
Rgas
- 0.3323 0.332 kJ/(kg.K)
(throat)
M
1 - 1
(throat)
M
5.378 -
(exit) 5.3661
ve 2600.5 - 2948.9335 m/s
vt 980.1 - 1063.8722 m/s
Te 647.88 - 734.9981 K
Tt 2299.59 - 2867.466 K
Isp - 265.086 282.18 s

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 F - 0.5 0.5 N
𝑚̇ - 0.000192 0.00019 Kg/s
At - 0.3802 - mm2
Ae - 42.98 - mm2
Ae/At 112.92 - 103.718
Tc 2592.63 - 3078.7087 K
De - 7.397 7.12 mm
Dt - 0.69 0.70 mm
CF 1.8327 - 1.8618
C* 1418.9 1386.14 1530.660 m/s
Vc - 387.80 mm3
Ac - 42.98 - mm2
Dc - 2.80 2.80 mm
Lc - 62.190 65.04 mm
Result Analysis

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Conclusions:
• The propellant couple powering this motor is a green one.
• Not only is this good for the environment, but also for
work-safety, resulting in cutting down the propellant
production and storage costs.
• The above statement improves the economic interests in
promoting a further development in similar motors,
generating value for all the actions in the space economy.

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Future work:
• Design of injection head and ignition device.
• Cooling system.
• Making it possible for the CubeSat to even reach the
Earth’s surface after the de-orbiting mission.

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ICTAME 2021

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•Reference:
• Filippo Maggi, Davide Zuin, La Luna, MattiaDotti, Christian Paravan, LucianoGalfett.
8thEuropean Conference for Aeronautics and Aerospace Sciences(EUCASS).
• Tomasz Palacz.
• Zachary Thicksten, Frank Macklin, and John.
• Jamie Chin, Ronald Coelho, Justin Foley, Alicia John stone, Ryan Nugent, Dave Pignatelli,
Savannah Pignatelli, Nikolaus Powell, Jordi Puig-Suari, “CubeSat 101 Basic concept and
processes for First-Time CubeSat Developers”, NASA Headquarters/-media Fusion,2017
This document was created mainly for CubeSat developers who are working With NASA’s
CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI).
• Hyperion Technologies, “PM200 – High thrust propulsion for CubeSats”, Clean Space
Industry Days, 2017.
• Karthik Venkatesh Mani, Francesco Topputo, Angelo Cervone, “Chemical Propulsion
System Design for a 16U Interplanetary CubeSat” 69 thInternational Astronautical Congress,
Bremen, Germany.,2018.
• Micheal M.Micci, Andrew D. Ketsdever, Paul Zarchan “Micro propulsion for small
Spacecraft” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
• George P. Sutton, Oscar Biblarz, “Rocket Propulsion Elements” Wiley, Ninth Ed.2019.
• Dawn Aerospace. 31
THANK YOU

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