Air breathing electric thruster for very low Earth orbit satellites that uses atmospheric molecules as propellant.
Air Breathing Thruster
Air breathing electric thruster for very low Earth orbit satellites that uses atmospheric molecules as propellant.
Description
Blue Orbit's Air Breathing Thruster is designed for very low Earth orbit (VLEO) applications where atmospheric drag is significant. Instead of carrying on-board propellant, the thruster ingests residual atmospheric molecules and ionizes them for thrust — dramatically reducing the propellant mass fraction and enabling indefinite station-keeping in low-drag orbits.
This technology enables a new class of permanently-operating satellites at altitudes that would otherwise require impractical amounts of propellant for drag compensation. The Air Breathing Thruster provides up to 20 mN thrust with total impulse up to 1,500 kNs from the collected atmosphere.
Specs:
- Dimensions: 90 × 85 × 115 mm
- Thrust: < 20 mN
- Total impulse: < 1,500 kNs