Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
The micronewton thruster is one of the essential technologies for providing an ultrastable satellite platform for scientific experiments in space. Particularly, space gravitational wave detection requires a microthruster with continuously adjustable thrust, high resolution, low noise, and fast response. To meet these requirements, we designed a two-dimensional (2D) nozzle and manufactured it using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Compared to the nozzles machined with conventional methods, the nozzles etched by the MEMS can easily reach a micron size and form arrays to create mutual backups and also provide a way to widen the thrust range by switching the number of openings. Based on a single 2D nozzle, a cold gas microthruster prototype is constructed with nitrogen gas as the propellant. The thrust of the prototype is tested by a pendulum, the range can span Formula: see text, the thrust resolution is better than Formula: see text, and the thrust noise reaches Formula: see text at 0.1 Hz. The result demonstrates that the scheme has the potential to be applied to gravitational wave detection missions.
Hu et al. (2024) studied this question.