Next-Generation Electric Propulsion Thrusters for Small Spacecraft
Development and application of small spacecraft (SSC) is currently one of the most actively developing areas in the global space industry. To prolong active life of SSC, they must be equipped with corrective propulsion systems based on engines with high specific impulse and total pulse. The low-power (from several tens to several hundreds of watts) electric propulsion thrusters (EPT) of various types may be used as such engines. The paper presents an overview of works fulfilled at the RIAME MAI and related to EPT for SSC. The main results of works on three types of low-power EPT are presented: ablative pulsed plasma thrusters (APPT), radio-frequency ion thrusters (RIT) and stationary plasma thrusters (SPT).