European Electric Propulsion Activities In The Era Of Application

G. Saccoccia. (1995), JBIS, 48, pp.487-499

Refcode: 1995.48.487

Abstract:

Electric propulsion has emerged all over the world as a major enabling technology for present and future space missions. Electric thrusters have been investigated and flight tested by the USA, the former USSR and latterly by Japan since the 1960’s, but only in the 1980’s the increased masses and lifetimes of the satellites being developed, together with the greater electrical power available on-board, made the operational use of electric propulsion even more attractive.