Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientists have developed the first 3D-printed plasma sensors for use in orbiting spacecraft. The sensors, known as the Retard Potential Analyzer (RPA), are used to determine the chemical composition and ion energy distribution of the atmosphere.
Can withstand up to 800°C
State-of-the-art semiconductor plasma sensors have expensive and weeks-long manufacturing processes, but the 3D-printed sensor developed by MIT makes the process both much shorter and cheaper. This makes it ideal for the low-cost and fast-producing CubeSat used to monitor the environment or predict the weather.
To develop the sensor, the researchers used a printable glass-ceramic material called Vitrolite that is electrically insulating and can withstand sudden, violent fluctuations in temperature. It is stated that the material used is more durable than materials commonly used in sensors such as thin-film coatings and silicon.
Vitrolite can function without degradation at temperatures up to 800 degrees Celsius, while the polymers used in other semiconductor RPAs begin to degrade at 400 degrees Celsius.
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The team said they have already prototyped four unique designs, as the sensors are inexpensive to manufacture and can be produced very quickly. In addition, the researchers aim to create complex hardware by improving the production process.
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