NATICK, Mass. - Airbus and OneWeb needed thrusters for its internet satellites. They found their solution from Busek Co. in Natick, Mass.
Busek's BHT-350 thruster was selected by the Airbus and OneWeb, who have teamed on a growing communications satellite (AOS) constellation, which aims to provide affordable internet access world. As of February 2022, a total of 428 satellites had been delivered to orbit.
Busek provides the option of a complete and fully integrated Hall Effect thruster system with the BHT-350, including cathode, power processing unit, digital control unit, and propellant management systems.
The thruster has a nominal discharge power of 350W and a throttle range of 200-600W and a nominal thrust of 17mN. The thruster mass weighs in at 1.7kg and the cathod mass is 0.2kg.
"We have long been proud to support Airbus OneWeb Satellites' mission set. The BHT-350 is well-matched to a multitude of small satellite applications, where the design benefits from a proven supply chain, and an industrialized production line with 100% hot-fire acceptance testing." said Vlad Hruby, President of Busek.
OneWeb calls for satellites of less than 150 kg each that feature fewer electrical connections between subsystems than are typical of traditional communications satellites. With first models manufactured at OneWeb Satellites facility at the Airbus Toulouse site in France, full series production is taking place at OneWeb Satellites new factory in the U.S. state of Florida, demonstrating once again the agility of this joint venture.
