Research on Thrust Noise Characteristic of 1.35kW Hall Thruster

¹ Beijing Institute of Control Engineering
² Beijing Engineering Research Center of Efficient and Green Aerospace Propulsion Technology
³ Beijing SunWise Space Technology Ltd.

Published online: 13 April 2026

Abstract

The rapid advancement of contemporary global satellite communication and navigation has led to a growing significance for accurate orbit prediction and real-time orbit control capabilities. This gives rise to higher standards for thrust resolution and precision in propulsion systems. Since Hall thrusters is among the most common used electric thruster types, increasing its thrust accuracy is meaningful to meet the latest requirements.

In this research, by parameter fitting of the performance test results, the thrust characteristic of the 1.35kW hall thruster with regard to the anode voltage and current is firstly developed. Secondly, the observed anode voltage and current are used to determine the thrust fluctuation trend and noise characteristic. It is demonstrated that xenon flow variation has the largest relative noise level, which infers that it is the main source of thrust noise. Thirdly, the thrust noise power spectrum density is evaluated and the results indicate that the noise level is largest in the low frequency band resulting from long-term drift of anode current, and it is less than 0.1 mN/Hz^1/2 in the frequency band higher than 10^-3Hz.