Technology / plasma-propulsion
Facts about Plasma Propulsion
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Pulsed plasma thrusters were among the first electric propulsion systems flown in space, used on small satellites due to their simplicity and low power requirements.
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Gridded electrostatic thrusters, a category of plasma propulsion, use charged grids to accelerate ionized propellant and achieve specific impulses several times higher than chemical engines.
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Hall-effect thrusters, a major type of plasma propulsion, trap electrons in a magnetic field to ionize propellant and have been widely used on commercial and government satellites.
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Ion thrusters, a form of plasma propulsion, generate thrust by accelerating ions using electric fields, producing far higher specific impulse than chemical rockets.