Electrostatic propulsion for satellites application to the Robusta-3 nanosatellite

Abstract

The future of nanosatellites, with a mass of a few kg, might be equipped with propulsion systems, particularly to speed up their deorbitation at the mission end. For this purpose a new plasma micro-thruster is proposed: it uses positive ion electrostatic extraction, and is based on the acquired experience in the field of permanent magnet Hall Effect Thrusters (PPI) and on reentry trajectory calculus.