Disclosed is a space propulsion device capable of continuous operation
using a solid propellant having high density and excellent handleability.
The solid propellant-based space propulsion device comprises
solid-propellant support means for supporting a solid propellant, a
solid-propellant attachment surface for permitting the solid propellant
to be attached thereon, solid-propellant feed means for feeding the solid
propellant to an attachment position on the solid-propellant attachment
surface, adhesion-energy supply means for heatingly melting or
sublimating the solid propellant in the attachment position to adherently
attach the solid propellant onto the solid-propellant attachment surface,
solid-propellant transfer means for transferring the solid propellant to
a release position for releasing the solid propellant, and
propulsive-energy supply means for energizing the transferred solid
propellant to release the solid propellant from the solid-propellant
attachment surface at the release position, as a propulsive jet, while
accelerating the solid propellant in a direction approximately
perpendicular to the solid-propellant attachment surface. The
solid-propellant transfer means is designed to move the solid-propellant
attachment surface in such a manner that a area of the solid-propellant
attachment surface for adherently holding the solid propellant is
returned to a position adjacent to an end of the solid propellant in a
repetitive manner.