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SYPS: Symposium Plasmas in the Solar System

SYPS 1: Plasmas in the Solar System

SYPS 1.4: Invited Talk

Thursday, February 29, 2024, 12:30–13:00, ELP 6: HS 4

Plasma-based space propulsion: status and scientific challenges — •Kristof Holste — I. Physikalisches Institut, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, 35392 Giessen, Germany

Ion thrusters have been researched for more than 60 years and have reached a high level of maturity. They are routinely used for a range of orbital manoeuvres, e.g. for station keeping and, for the last ten years, for electric orbit raising (EOR). The latter has led to a new boom in the field of ion propulsion, as EOR has significantly reduced launch costs.

Nevertheless, there are a number of challenges. The amount of available xenon, currently the most important propellant, is limited. The increasing demand can hardly be met with existing resources, so that alternatives must be found.

The talk is dedicated to the search for alternative propellants and discusses some interesting approaches, such as the use of stable hydrocarbons (e.g. diamondoids) or iodine and the concept of air-breathing thruster, which has been under investigation for several years due to the great interest in low-flying satellites.

In addition, the current topic of the standardisation or comparability of measurements will be addressed, i.e. the transfer of measurements during tests on earth to performance in space, which is becoming increasingly important in view of the boom in these thrusters.

Keywords: ion thruster; electric propulsion; plasma diagnostics