  The testing of atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion intakes is an
important step in the development of functional propulsion systems which
provide sustained drag compensation in very low Earth orbits. To make satellite
operations more sustainable, it is necessary to develop new materials which
withstand erosion, long-lasting propulsion systems to overcome drag, and tools
that allow for ground-based testing. Among the tools to enable these
innovations is the Rarefied Orbital Aerodynamics Research facility at the
University of Manchester. Here, a description of the facility is provided
together with two different methodologies for testing sub-scaled intake designs
for atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion systems. The first methodology is
based on measurements of the pressure difference between the two extremities of
the intake, while the second uses a gas sensor to measure the collection
efficiency of the intake. Direct Simulation Monte Carlo models have been used
to assess the viability of the proposed testing methodologies. The results of
this analysis indicate that either methodology or a combination of both can
provide suitable measurements to assess the performance of future intake
designs.
