Unveiling the Future: A Survey of Electric Propulsion Systems and their Pivotal Role in Shaping the Next Frontier of Space Exploration
- 1 Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Kwara State University, Kwara, Nigeria
- 2 Department of Air Traffic Control, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria
Abstract
Electric propulsion represents the future of space travel, which is a promising technology for Earth-orbital and deep space missions, including potential applications in human Mars missions. The past decade has witnessed substantial progress in the conceptualization and experimentation of electric thrusters and their propellants, signaling a transformative era in space exploration. This review provides an overview of the comparison between electric and chemical propulsion, followed by a detailed examination of current research and development on various types of electric propulsion thrusters. The discussion encompasses the adoption of diverse technologies to enhance the scalability of these thrusters, presenting a comprehensive outlook on the future of space exploration.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/jastsp.2023.17.23
Copyright: © 2023 Jinadu Abdulbaqi, Okikijesu Omolona Olajide and Ayodeji Tunde Akangbe. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Keywords
- Electric Propulsion
- Thrusters
- Propellants
- Space Exploration