// 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
An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle propelled mostly by electric power. EVs encompass road, rail, boats and submersibles, aircraft and spacecraft.
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.