Spacecraft Electric Propulsion

Electric propulsion, also known as plasma or ion propulsion, encompasses a range of technologies used to move satellites and probes in space. Work on electric propulsion began in the early 1960s, coinciding with the development of high-current plasma sources. The first satellite equipped with an electric thruster was launched in 1964 . Since then, the technology has greatly evolved, performance has improved, numerous concepts and approaches have emerged, and the use of this propulsion method has spread throughout the world. To date, hundreds of electric thrusters have been installed on satellites, and several scientific exploration probes have completed their missions using this technology. The increasing electrical power available on satellites in geostationary orbit has recently led to the emergence of "all-electric" satellites, for which all maneuvers are performed using plasma thrusters. The field is currently experiencing strong growth, with numerous developments and achievements due to the deployment of several small satellite constellations and the implementation of projects for mega-constellations, space tugs and cargo vehicles.

Electric propulsion, like its chemical counterpart, relies on the conservation of momentum to generate propulsive force. However, whereas chemical propulsion converts the chemical energy stored in the propellant into kinetic energy via a combustion reaction (thermal phase), electric propulsion converts electrical energy into the kinetic energy of charged particles . Thanks to the separation between the energy source and the material to be ejected, this propulsion method achieves high ejection speeds, which translates directly into very low propellant consumption . This is the major advantage of electric propulsion. It can significantly reduce the mass of a satellite, and therefore the cost of launch, or extend the duration of a mission, and therefore increase...