This paper describes the testing and pulse performance analysis of a 45 N thruster, designated A45, using a 19.78% monomethylhydrazine–80.22% hydrazine fuel blend with mixed oxides of nitrogen containing 3% nitric oxide as the oxidizer. The thruster components are fabricated using additive manufacturing (AM), which enabled fine design features on injectors to achieve fast response times. The main focus of this work is to demonstrate precise and repeatable pulse performance and combustion stability and to compare thruster performance with theoretical predictions from NASA CEA across the chosen test matrix. As part of the pulse performance analysis, impulse produced by each pulse of a given 50 Hz pulse train is characterized, thereby illustrating that true pulse repeatability on such thrusters only starts with the third pulse. This is caused by the priming of the injector manifold at the start of a pulse train. Specific impulse as functions of pulse ON and OFF times are also characterized for a 50 Hz duty cycle and dry injector manifold operation. This method of per-pulse performance characterization aids guidance, navigation, and control teams in thrust/impulse control for attitude control. Overall, the specific impulse, characteristic velocity efficiency, and response times demonstrated by this additively manufactured thruster are similar to those fabricated by traditional methods and support wider use of AM in the aerospace industry.

本文描述了命名为 A45 的 45 N 推进器的测试和脉冲性能分析，该推进器使用 19.78% 单甲基肼–80.22% 肼燃料混合物和含有 3% 一氧化氮的混合氮氧化物作为氧化剂。推进器组件是使用增材制造 (AM) 制造的，这使得喷射器的精细设计特征能够实现快速响应时间。这项工作的主要重点是展示精确和可重复的脉冲性能和燃烧稳定性，并将推进器性能与 NASA CEA 对所选测试矩阵的理论预测进行比较。作为脉冲性能分析的一部分，对给定 50 Hz 脉冲序列的每个脉冲产生的脉冲进行表征，从而说明此类推进器的真正脉冲重复性仅从第三个脉冲开始。这是由脉冲串开始时喷油器歧管的启动引起的。对于 50 Hz 占空比和干式喷射器歧管操作，比冲作为脉冲 ON 和 OFF 时间的函数也具有特征。这种每脉冲性能表征方法有助于引导、导航和控制团队进行姿态控制的推力/脉冲控制。总体而言，这种增材制造的推进器所展示的比脉冲、特征速度效率和响应时间与传统方法制造的相似，并支持 AM 在航空航天工业中的更广泛应用。这种每脉冲性能表征方法有助于引导、导航和控制团队进行姿态控制的推力/脉冲控制。总体而言，这种增材制造的推进器所展示的比脉冲、特征速度效率和响应时间与传统方法制造的相似，并支持 AM 在航空航天工业中的更广泛应用。这种每脉冲性能表征方法有助于引导、导航和控制团队进行姿态控制的推力/脉冲控制。总体而言，这种增材制造的推进器所展示的比脉冲、特征速度效率和响应时间与传统方法制造的相似，并支持 AM 在航空航天工业中的更广泛应用。