Department of Aerospace Engineering
Minta Martin Seminar Series
Paulo Lozano
Associate Professor
Chair of the Graduate Program
Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics
Director, Space Propulsion Laboratory
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
FUNDAMENTALS OF SPACECRAFT PROPULSION
BASED ON ELECTROSPRAY SOURCES
April 15, 2015 | 3:30 PM
Aerospace Engineering Conference Room, 3164 Martin Hall
ABSTRACT: Electric Propulsion (EP) brings many benefits for missions requiring significant changes in
vehicle velocity with reduced propellant use, even as additional electronics tax the satellite mass and volume.
EP would enable astronomy, communications and exploration missions by providing small and relatively
inexpensive spacecraft with station keeping, orbital transfer and deep-space travel capabilities. However,
most plasma-based EP technologies are challenging to miniaturize to the required levels, especially for nano/
pico-satellites. In this talk we discuss these physical challenges and will describe the working and design
principles of the ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS), an example of an EP technology amenable
for efficient miniaturization. Electrosprays are devices that produce emission and acceleration of charged
particles from an electrically conductive liquid. The main benefit is their intrinsic small size, clustering
potential in parallel MEMS-based arrays and high efficiency. In particular, the iEPS concept relies on the
emission of molecular ions to produce thrust. Such configuration minimizes mass and volume allowing their
use in spacecraft as small as the popular 1 kg CubeSats.
BIO: PAULO C. LOZANO is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Graduate Program in the Department
of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and heads the Space Propulsion Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology. His main interests are in plasma physics, space propulsion, ion beam physics, small satellites
and nanotechnology. His research features the development of highly efficient and compact ion thrusters
for applications in space systems, including pico- and nano-satellites. He received a Young Investigator
Program Award from the US Air Force for his work on micro-propulsion and the “Future Mind” award from
Quo Science Magazine and the Discovery Channel. Dr. Lozano’s research is sponsored by NASA, DARPA,
AFOSR, AFRL, NSF and other government and private sources. He is a recipient of the Outstanding Faculty
Mentor Award for his contributions to the research experience of undergraduate students at MIT. Dr. Lozano
has developed seven patents and published over 80 conference and journal publications. He teaches subjects
in space and rocket propulsion, fluid mechanics and plasma physics. Dr. Lozano is an Associate Fellow of
the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He served on the Asteroid Mitigation and NASA
Technology Roadmaps panels of the National Research Council. Prof. Lozano earned his PhD in Space
Propulsion from MIT.
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