Electric Propulsion Comes Of Age

 W. A. Kisko. (1980), JBIS, 33, pp.190-194

Refcode: 1980.33.190

Abstract:

The concept of electric propulsion is as old as modern rocketry. As early as 1906. Robert Goddard proposed using an electro static field to accelerate charged particles as a source of thrust for interplanetary travel. From the beginning, the special place of electric propulsion was recognized – high performance missions in the low gravity field and vacuum of free space. Electric propulsion offered impulse an order of magnitude above that of chemical propulsion systems; but, because rocketry’s first steps were through the gravity well and atmosphere of the Earth, chemical systems have been dominant.