ISRO has successfully completed a 1,000-hour life test on its 300mN Stationary Plasma Thruster, developed for its Electric Propulsion System (EPS).
Propellant & Performance:
- Xenon is used as the propellant.
- The thruster’s specific impulse is at least 6 times higher than that of conventional chemical propulsion systems, indicating much greater fuel efficiency.
Future Satellite Applications:
- The EPS is being developed to eventually replace chemical propulsion in future satellites.
- This shift will lead to extensive mass savings and enhance transponder capacity in communication satellites.
Comparing Propulsion Systems:
- Electric Propulsion Systems (EPS):
- Use electric heating or electromagnetic fields to accelerate propellant.
- Provide high fuel efficiency but generate small thrusts—ideal for deep space missions with long transit times.
- Chemical Propulsion Systems:
- Rely on rapid chemical reactions to produce large thrusts over short durations.
- Include various types such as liquid, gaseous, solid, and hybrid propulsion systems.
