Maximilian Maigler (Professorship for Plasma Technology and basics of Electrical Engineering, UniBw M)
The C-STAR experimental thruster is a novel electric propulsion system developed at the Laboratory of Plasma Technology of the UniBw Munich. It is a vacuum arc thruster, which employs a strong direct-current arc to ionize a propellant traversing the arc. Using permanent magnets, the heavy ions are accelerated and produce thrust. The specific impulse and therefore efficiency can be up to 30 times higher compared to conventional chemical thrusters. In order to estimate the performance and lifetime of this experimental thruster, we setup and carry out holistic multiphysics simulations of the entire system. The C-STAR thruster will be operating on board the SeRanis satellite and tested for orbital attitude control.