The New Space Race for LEO Satellites Supported by Boron Nitride
March 16, 2022
While the original space race between the former USSR and the United States ended in the mid-1970s, a new space race is emerging. It is fuelled by falling launch costs driven by rapid advances in computing and manufacturing technologies.
The Space Foundation reports that the global space economy rose to $447 billion in 2020, a 55% increase from ten years earlier. This growth shows no sign of abating. By 2030, 10,000 satellites are expected to be launched, five times the number in orbit today. The commercialization of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites will fuel a range of space services in communication, navigation, and research.
Hall Effect Thrusters (HETs) have been used for decades in satellite propulsion systems. Boron nitride ceramics provide the thermal conductivity, heat and plasma erosion resistance, electrical insulation, and low density required by satellite propulsion systems operating in extreme environments.
The Basic Operation of Hall Effect Thrusters
Hall Effect Thrusters were first employed on satellites in the 1970s. They use electric power to generate thrust. Electric propulsion systems have higher exhaust velocities than chemical propulsion systems. Thus, they require less propellant. Based on a discovery by Edwin Hall, HETs use ionized propellant to generate thrust. For this reason, they are also known as ion thrusters.
A Hall Effect Thruster comprises four key components: A magnetic circuit (annular solenoid), an injector anode (gas feeder), a cathode, and a discharge chamber (also known as a plasma chamber).
Electrons emitted from the cathode travel towards the anode. Their motion is controlled by the magnetic field. From the anode, an inert gas (usually Xenon) is injected into the plasma chamber. There, it is ionized by the electrons. Since the plasma chamber comprises two dielectric coaxial cylinders, the ionized gas accelerates and generates thrust.
Considering the extreme operating conditions, the wall of the plasma chamber is manufactured from a heat-resistant, electrically insulating ceramic material, typically boron nitride.
Boron Nitride Ceramics in Hall Effect Thrusters
The extreme environments within which satellites operate require the precise design of material components. Conventional ultra-hard ceramics involve costly manufacturing methods, such as pressing, sintering, and grinding.
Boron nitride ceramics, on the other hand, are high-performing machinable ceramics. They combine exceptional heat resistance, superior thermal conductivity, and high dielectric strength with chemical inertness that support the most demanding industrial applications.
Read More about Boron Nitride Ceramics for Plasma Chambers
Boron nitride ceramics are manufactured by sintering raw boron nitride powders into billets (compacted blocks). This low-strain-rate manufacturing process, known as hot pressing, uses temperatures as high as 2000°C (3632°F) and moderate to high pressures to induce sintering.
Boron nitride billets are easily machinable into complex geometries. They do not require green machining, grinding, or glazing. Therefore, they enable rapid prototyping, design changes and fast qualification cycles for advanced engineering applications.
Boron nitride components are ideal for the optimal operation and durability of plasma chambers in Hall Effect Thrusters. They provide:
- Electrical Insulation: Boron nitride ceramics provide protection against the high-power electrical field in plasma chambers, preventing systems from short circuiting.
- Sputtering Resistance: Sputtering occurs when ions bombard a surface, wearing the material away. Boron nitride ceramics are particularly resistant to sputtering.
- Thermal Shock Resistance: Boron nitride components provide protection against the extreme variations in temperatures encountered on LEO satellite missions.
- High Thermal Conductivity: Boron nitride ceramics remove excessive heat from the plasma chambers of HET thrusters.
- Low Density: Saving weight is critical in space-bound missions. The low density of boron nitride ceramics contributes to low fuel consumption.
These ceramics are uniquely adapted to plasma environments. Their resistance to spluttering extends the longevity of components. And their low propensity to generate secondary ions preserves the propulsion efficiency of thrusters. Therefore, boron nitride ceramics contribute to the optimal operation of Hall Effect Thrusters while also extending their lifetime.
Boron Nitride Ceramics from Saint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain specializes in boron nitride ceramics that achieve exceptional performance in a range of demanding industrial applications. The use of these components in the discharge channels of Hall Effect Thrusters is essential. Furthermore, our boron nitride has been extensively validated by NASA, and our solutions are fielded in a range of satellite thrusters in orbit today. They have become the benchmark for thrusters with a range of grades offering a choice of key characteristics. These include:
- M26: A boron nitride-silica composite with comprehensive performance and extreme robustness in terms of moisture resistance and mechanical strength.
- HP: Offers the longest-standing mission performance and good lifetime in orbit.
- AX05: Our highest purity boron nitride, offering class-leading sputtering resistance.
Refer to our machinable ceramics page for more information on our various boron nitride grades.
References
Singh, S. et. al. (2021). Introduction to Plasma Based Propulsion System: Hall Thrusters.
DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.96916
Spacefoundation.org. (2021). Global Space Economy Rose to $447B in 2020, Continuing Five-Year Growth. https://www.spacefoundation.org/2021/07/15/global-space-economy-rose-to…
Dnv.com. The new space race.
https://www.dnv.com/to2030/trend/the-new-space-race.html
Nasa.gov. Hall Effect Thruster Technologies.
https://technology.grc.nasa.gov/page/hall-effect-thruster-technologies
Nasa.gov. NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive.
https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-031A