Optical diagnostic techniques can complement existing performance characterization methods for microthrusters under development for microsatellite technology. We present a design for a miniature nonintrusive optical diagnostic sensor to measure the flow characteristics of water-based microthrusters. Our design uses silica waveguide-based integrated optic sensors, which can be constructed as an integral part of microthruster walls, providing real-time, in-situ measurements, during tests and in flight. Based on available thruster characteristics and performance estimates supplied by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards Air Force Base, together with calculations of the scattering and obscuration properties of the exhaust particles with plausible sizes and concentrations, we analyze acceptable sensor geometries, and examine feasible ranges of operation.

Date Published: 26 November 2001
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 4448, Optical Diagnostics for Fluids, Solids, and Combustion, (26 November 2001); doi: 10.1117/12.449361

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4448:
Optical Diagnostics for Fluids, Solids, and Combustion
Carolyn R. Mercer; Soyoung Stephen Cha; Gongxin Shen, Editor(s)