Abstract
This paper describes the progress of an advanced pulsed plasma thruster (PPT).The PPT currently being developed for flight which represents a significant leap in technology compared to previous flight models. The PPT will be used to extend satellite life from about 1–3 months to over one year by raising it's operational orbit. The PPT is an ideal propulsion system for extending the small satellite life because of it's high specific impulse (>1000 sec), low system wet mass (<5 kg), and inert nature when not powered (thus minimizing shuttle integration issues). In addition to the life enhancement mission, the on-orbit operations have been specifically designed to rigorously test the PPT ant to demonstrate it's compatibility with the satellites spacecraft in order to validate it for commercial satellites.
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