Hall-Effect Thruster Performance Characterization Using a Torsional Balance Thrust Stand

A torsion balance micro-Newton-resolution thrust stand is used to characterize the performance of the University of Alabama micro-Hall Effect Thruster (UA MHET). The thrust stand is capable of testing plasma thrusters that weigh several kilograms and measuring thrust at the μN level at steady state. For both calibration and testing, thrust is measured using a linear displacement sensor (LDS) laser. The thrust stand uses electrostatic plates for calibration, with the potential for use in active damping, and a vacuum-compatible, non-contact passive eddy current damper to reduce external noise. At the time of writing, this project is ongoing and only preliminary calibration data has been collected. The usefulness of the thrust stand will be shown by its ability to measure the thrust produced by the UA MHET and confirm results found by the original designer of the UA MHET, Matthew Warren.