Plasma thrusters: A new frontier in Advanced propulsion

Abstract

As interplanetary travel becomes more and more of interest, the viability of chemically propelled rockets and spacecrafts lessen. It is not practical and, at times, nearly impossible to carry fuel (liquid or solid in nature) and oxidizer for long-distance space flight run by air-breathing or any combustion-based chemical propulsion systems. A viable propulsion system for deep space exploration must use a smaller and lighter propulsion unit with a high degree of controllability and employ a working fluid easy to store and use. Several unconventional propulsion systems such as electron, ion, photon, and plasma-based propulsion systems meet these criteria. These new advanced propulsion strategies provide new and improved methods that promise spectacular results, albeit with some compromises, when it comes to long-distance space missions. Leaving aside the immense positive impacts on reducing the damage on earth’s environment at launch due to the toxic byproducts of conventional rockets and the huge economic benefits due to the increased efficiency of these systems, these new advanced strategies are almost compulsory for most long-distance interplanetary missions reaching the edge of the solar system and beyond.