News | 26.01.2015

What does “Electric Propulsion” mean?

What does “Electric Propulsion” mean?

Electric propulsion (EP) is used to change the velocity of a spacecraft using a propulsion system powered by electrical energy. The electrical power is used to accelerate a propellant by different possible electrical and/or magnetic means. The use of electrical power enhances the propulsive performances of the EP thrusters compared with conventional chemical thrusters. Unlike chemical systems, electric propulsion requires very little mass to accelerate a spacecraft. The propellant is ejected up to twenty times faster than from a classical chemical thruster and therefore the overall system is many times more mass efficient.

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