The “Taiji-1” satellite is a test satellite for the verification of those key technologies involved in the “Taiji Program in Space”, China’s space gravitational wave detection project; and the spacecraft drag-free control technology is one of its key technologies used to improve the microgravity level of spacecraft. Thus, a demand for a high-precision and continuously adjustable micronewton-level thrust has been proposed on the spacecraft micro-propulsion system. In allusion to such a task, a set of micronewton-level RF ion propulsion system was designed based on the principle of self-sustained discharge of RF plasma so as to conduct studies on the parameter optimization and engineering of RF ion thruster, and an engineering prototype of the micronewton-level continuously adjustable RF ion thruster was successfully developed to meet the design index requirements. The operating parameters have been solidified through further studies on the extreme operating conditions of the engineering prototype, and a series of ground simulation tests of space environment were successfully passed. The ground test and calibration experiment results of the micro-propulsion engineering prototype show that the engineering prototype has fully met the requirements of the Taiji-1 mission, thus having laid a solid foundation for the successful space verification of the key technologies for the “Taiji-1” satellite.

中文翻译：

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太极一号卫星射频离子微推进器地面性能测试与评价

“太极一号”卫星是我国空间引力波探测工程“太极计划太空”关键技术验证试验卫星；而航天器无阻力控制技术是其用于提高航天器微重力水平的关键技术之一。因此，对航天器微推进系统提出了高精度、连续可调的微牛顿级推力的需求。针对这一任务，基于射频等离子体自持放电原理设计了一套微牛顿级射频离子推进系统，对射频离子推进器的参数优化和工程进行了研究，研制成功微牛顿级连续可调射频离子推进器工程样机，满足设计指标要求。通过对工程样机极端运行条件的深入研究，运行参数得到了固化，并顺利通过了一系列空间环境地面模拟试验。微推进工程样机地面试验和标定实验结果表明，工程样机完全满足太极一号任务要求，为“太极一号”关键技术的空间验证成功奠定了坚实基础。 -1” 卫星。并顺利通过了一系列空间环境地面模拟试验。微推进工程样机地面试验和标定实验结果表明，工程样机完全满足太极一号任务要求，为“太极一号”关键技术的空间验证成功奠定了坚实基础。 -1” 卫星。并顺利通过了一系列空间环境地面模拟试验。微推进工程样机地面试验和标定实验结果表明，工程样机完全满足太极一号任务要求，为“太极一号”关键技术的空间验证成功奠定了坚实基础。 -1” 卫星。