SURGE CURRENT LIMIT SYSTEM FOR AUGMENTATION HEATER OF ROCKETFOR HYDRAZINE ATTITUDE CONTROL

摘要

An electrothermal hydrazine thruster passes the hydrazine through a catalyst bed and an augmentation heater. The augmentation heater includes an electrical heating element powered by a satellite battery. A load resistance is coupled in series with the heating element to reduce the current through the electrical circuit including the heating element to a safe level. A switch coupled across the load resistance is closed bypassing the load resistance when the heating element heats up and increases its resistance value to a value that can be tolerated in the battery circuit.