RADIO-FREQUENCY ION THRUSTER APPLICATION FOR THE LOW-ORBIT SMALL SC MOTION CONTROL

To provide long-term operation of spacecraft (SC) in low-orbit, it is necessary to correct its motion periodically in order to compensate for the SC aerodynamic drag. Duration of such SC orbital life is limited by the store of propellant of the corrective propulsion system and its lifetime. Therefore, application of electric propulsion (EP) with high specific impulse and long lifetime provides longer operating life comparing to the traditional application of liquid-propellant engines for such tasks. Ion thrusters with electrodeless inductive radio-frequency discharge with relatively low power (from 300 to 1000 W) developed by RIAME MAI have performance that make them competitive in the market.