New air-breathing spacecraft enhances Earth observation and communication capabilities

New air-breathing spacecraft enhances Earth observation and communication capabilities
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) May 10, 2024

The University of Surrey is pioneering a novel approach for powering low-orbit spacecraft using air as a propellant. Funded by the UK Space Agency, this initiative at the Surrey Space Centre aims to facilitate spacecraft operations at extremely low altitudes within the upper atmosphere.

This innovative spacecraft design is expected to advance Earth observation, climate monitoring, and satellite communications. According to Dr Andrea Lucca Fabris, principal investigator at Surrey Space Centre and an expert in electric propulsion, the new system will allow for high-resolution Earth observations and faster telecommunications. "There are benefits to flying in very low altitude orbits, like being able to operate Earth observation at much higher resolutions than offered at present. It could also mean faster telecommunications, and it opens the door to new scientific discoveries about conditions in the ionosphere, which could help develop more accurate atmospheric models," said Dr. Fabris.

Traditional spacecraft in low Earth orbits operate in a vacuum, requiring different design and propulsion considerations than those needed for the thin air of extremely low-altitude orbits. An air-breathing electric propulsion engine, which uses atmospheric air as propellant for an electric thruster, is being developed to address these challenges. This technology facilitates drag-compensation, which helps maintain spacecraft altitude without the need for onboard propellant storage, thereby potentially extending mission lifetimes.

Dr Mansur Tisaev, a recent PhD graduate from the centre, highlighted the technical advancements in propulsion technology necessary for operation in these challenging environments. "We've been developing a cathode, or neutraliser, to work in electrostatic thrusters operating in the thin air found in ultra-low Earth orbit. By collecting and compressing the gases at that altitude, we can create a propellant flow that is ionised (i.e., transformed into a mix of charged particles) and accelerated using combinations of electric and magnetic fields, harnessing electrical power from solar panels," explained Dr. Tisaev.

The UK Space Agency has allocated GBP 250k to support a one-year project to further develop and test this concept, which includes propulsion testing, orbital mechanics analyses, and aerodynamic simulations.