Understanding air intakes for satellites operating in near-earth orbits through DSMC simulations

What is it about?

When satellites orbit Earth at altitudes below 450 kilometers, they encounter thin rarefied atmosphere. To overcome the aerodynamic resistance that comes with these environments, satellites use either Electric Propulsion Systems (EP), which have limited lifespan, or Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion Systems (ABEP), which last longer. Although ABEP Systems last longer because they utilize the atmospheric air, they still come with their own challenges. Intake geometries for these ABEP Systems are analyzed using the open-source CFD Software, SPARTA-DSMC Simulator. The ultimate objective of this research is to develop an efficient design for ABEP System Intakes.

Featured Image

Photo by ActionVance on Unsplash

Photo by ActionVance on Unsplash