The renewed interest in space exploration has led to the growth in research efforts pertaining to advanced space propulsion systems, including highly efficient electric propulsion systems. Although already tested in space many decades ago and being currently employed on various space platforms and thousands of satellites, these systems are yet to reach their full potential for applications on orbit and in deep space. One specific feature of space electric propulsion is the large diversity of physical processes used in this technology, which is not typical for many other types of propulsion systems used in transport, such as those used by airplanes or automobiles. Various physical processes and mechanisms underpin different electric propulsion technologies and should be integrated to drive the future science and technology of space electric propulsion systems. This opinion article briefly highlights this feature of space electric propulsion and outlines some challenges and opportunities that follow from this diversity.

Levchenko, I., Baranov, O., Pedrini, D., Riccardi, C., Roman, H., Xu, S., et al. (2022). Diversity of Physical Processes: Challenges and Opportunities for Space Electric Propulsion. APPLIED SCIENCES, 12(21) [10.3390/app122111143].

Diversity of Physical Processes: Challenges and Opportunities for Space Electric Propulsion

Riccardi, Claudia;
2022

Abstract

The renewed interest in space exploration has led to the growth in research efforts pertaining to advanced space propulsion systems, including highly efficient electric propulsion systems. Although already tested in space many decades ago and being currently employed on various space platforms and thousands of satellites, these systems are yet to reach their full potential for applications on orbit and in deep space. One specific feature of space electric propulsion is the large diversity of physical processes used in this technology, which is not typical for many other types of propulsion systems used in transport, such as those used by airplanes or automobiles. Various physical processes and mechanisms underpin different electric propulsion technologies and should be integrated to drive the future science and technology of space electric propulsion systems. This opinion article briefly highlights this feature of space electric propulsion and outlines some challenges and opportunities that follow from this diversity.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
CubeSats; electric propulsion; thrusters;
English
2022
Levchenko, I., Baranov, O., Pedrini, D., Riccardi, C., Roman, H., Xu, S., et al. (2022). Diversity of Physical Processes: Challenges and Opportunities for Space Electric Propulsion. APPLIED SCIENCES, 12(21) [10.3390/app122111143].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/396539
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