The Space Propulsion Laboratory is working on designing a propellant management system that will be able to withstand the vacuum of space and zero gravity. Under these conditions, the system will need to supply propellant from a container filled with ionic liquid to emitter chips attached to the thruster tank. These high efficiency thrusters require proper propellant management in order for thrust to be generated for long duration flights. The ultimate goal of the project will be to have a functional system incorporated with a batch of electrospray thrusters, so that they will be ready by the end of the school year for launch on a mission to space.

I have been working in the Space Propulsion Laboratory for two semesters and a summer, which has allowed me to familiarize with the laboratory and has exposed me to the exciting work being conducted on electrospray thrusters. What excites me the most about the project is that the final product of my work will be sent into space!