// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Electric Propulsion
Electric propulsion is a type of spacecraft engine that uses electrical energy to accelerate a propellant, providing very efficient but low thrust.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Electric propulsion is a class of spacecraft propulsion systems that use electrical power to accelerate a propellant (e.g., xenon, argon) to very high exhaust velocities via electromagnetic forces, offering significantly higher specific impulse and fuel efficiency than chemical rockets, primarily used for orbital maneuvering, station-keeping, and deep-space missions requiring low thrust over long durations.
BACKGROUND
General Electric Company, doing business as GE Aerospace, is an American aircraft engine supplier that is headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, outside Cincinnati. It is the legal successor to the original General Electric Company founded in 1892, which split into three separate companies between November 2021 and April 2024, adopting the trade name GE Aerospace after divesting its healthcare and energy divisions.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Ion propulsion
- Hall effect thruster
- Electrostatic propulsion
- Plasma propulsion
USAGE NOTE
Electric propulsion systems are ideal for long-duration deep-space missions where fuel efficiency is paramount.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Electric Propulsion.
An American rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer. They develop a range of electric propulsion systems, including the XR-5 Hall thruster used on geostationary satellites and the Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) for NASA's Gateway lunar outpost.
A US company specializing in advanced space propulsion. Busek develops various electric propulsion technologies, including Hall-effect thrusters, gridded ion engines, and electrospray thrusters for satellites ranging from CubeSats to large spacecraft.
A division of the French multinational company Safran, they are a leading European developer of Hall-effect thrusters (PPS series) and other plasma propulsion systems for satellites, used for orbit raising and station-keeping.
A California-based startup developing an electrodeless radio frequency (RF) plasma thruster. Their Maxwell engine aims to reduce manufacturing complexity and eliminate the erosion-prone components found in traditional Hall thrusters.
A Boston-based company that develops miniature ion electrospray propulsion systems for small satellites. Their TILE (Tiled Ionic Liquid Electrospray) thrusters provide a compact and scalable propulsion solution for CubeSats and other small spacecraft.
A French company focused on in-space transportation for small satellites. They develop high-thrust Hall-effect thrusters and associated software to provide mission design, optimization, and on-orbit mobility services.
A major NASA center with a long history of pioneering electric propulsion. They have developed and tested key technologies like the NSTAR and NEXT-C gridded ion thrusters used in deep space missions such as Deep Space 1, Dawn, and DART.
An Austrian company that produces Field-Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) thrusters. Their technology, which uses liquid metal ion sources, is known for its high precision and scalability, making it suitable for small satellite constellations.