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This work aims to reconstruct the current emitted by an electrospray thruster using com-
puted tomography, a technique that enables detailed, cross-sectional imaging of the emission
pattern. Electrospray thrusters, known for their efficiency in space propulsion, require precise
characterization of their emission profiles to optimize performance.
An experimental setup was developed featuring ATHENA, an electrospray thruster de-
signed at ienai SPACE, along with a tomography assembly that includes a wire collector and
two motion stages: linear and rotary. This configuration allows for precise scanning of the
thruster’s emission profile.
To facilitate the reconstruction process, MATLAB codes were developed to simulate
the emission patterns under various conditions. These simulations played a crucial role in
visualizing expected outcomes and optimizing experimental parameters, such as the distance
between the wire and the thruster, as well as the number of steps required for accurate data
collection. Data was generated across voltage levels ranging from 700 V to 1300 V, which
was used to create graphical representations of current intensity as a function of the stages’
positions, known as sinograms. These sinograms were then processed using the inverse Radon
transform to reconstruct the emission pattern as an image.
The resulting images aligned with the simulation predictions, and revealed non-uniform
emission across the thruster. This non-uniformity, although expected due to manufacturing
tolerances, provides valuable insights into the thruster’s performance characteristics. The
detailed analysis of these images suggests that certain regions of the thruster may require
design modifications to improve emission uniformity.

Propulsion --- Electrospray --- Satellites --- Computed Tomography --- Current Emission --- Radon Transform --- Ingénierie, informatique & technologie > Ingénierie aérospatiale