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SUMMARY:Efficient Batch-microfabricated Hardware for Miniaturized Spacecra
 ft - Dr. Luis Fernando Velásquez-García\, Principal Research Scientist\,
  Microsystems Technology Laboratories\, Massachusetts Institute of Technol
 ogy
DTSTART:20131206T133000Z
DTEND:20131206T143000Z
UID:TALK49034@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Myriam Ouberai
DESCRIPTION:Miniaturized spacecraft (1 – 10 Kg) are an interesting alter
 native to conventional inspace hardware to substantially reduce space miss
 ion costs and significantly increase launch rates. Miniaturized satellites
  can be used to implement very flexible and versatile dense constellations
 \, capable of missions such as real-time global surveillance\, communicati
 ons\, and large-aperture interferometry. One of the challenges in implemen
 ting scaled-down satellites is the development of subsystems compatible wi
 th the size and weight constraints posed by spacecraft miniaturization\, w
 ithout sacrificing functionality\; microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) c
 ould enable a space technological revolution by making possible the produc
 tion of low-cost\, batch-fabricated\, and rugged miniaturized satellite ha
 rdware with performance on par of better than the state of the art.\nThis 
 talk will focus on two examples of MEMS space propulsion hardware in devel
 opment at the Velasquez group at MIT\; in both cases\, large arrays of sca
 led-down elements operate in parallel to efficiently deliver high and unif
 orm throughput. The first example is an array of electrospray emitters tha
 t can be used as space thruster\; these rockets do not require external ne
 utralization and can efficiently span a wide range of Isp and thrust compa
 tible with many miniaturized spacecraft missions. The second example is a 
 massively multiplexed field emission cathode that can be used as neutraliz
 er of plasma-based electric rockets and that can operate in low Earth orbi
 t (LEO) without degradation\; these devices do not consume mass flowrate a
 nd therefore\, they can be used in scaled-down satellites.\nLuis Fernando 
 Velásquez-García is a principal investigator with the MIT’s Microsyste
 ms Technology Laboratories (MTL). He leads a group that conducts fundament
 al and applied research on systems composed of arrays of miniaturized elem
 ents that exploit high electrostatic field phenomena\; his group’s work 
 focuses on micro/nanostructures that harness high electric field phenomena
  for applications such as high-throughput nanomanufacturing\, energy\, spa
 ce\, and healthcare (http://multiplexed.mit.edu).\n\nEveryone is welcome.\
 n
LOCATION:Kapitza Building Seminar Room 16\, Cavendish Laboratory\, Departm
 ent of Physics
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