New propulsion system could make tiny satellites both fast and fuel-efficient
space
A new propulsion system combines the power and speed of conventional chemical thrusters with the precision and fuel-efficiency of electrical thrusters. The system could enable small satellites capable of both fast, powerful maneuvers and slower, precise adjustments. The system could enable the design of nimbler, more flexible small satellites, which could perform both fast, powerful maneuvers and slower, precise adjustments, depending on the mission and moment at hand. The key to the new system is a special propellant that can power both chemical and electrical thrusters, which traditionally have required separate, bulky fuel sources.
Source: news.mit.edu , photo by Harrison Broadbent on Unsplash