Research and Development of Space Electric Propulsion Systems

Electric propulsion systems, unlike conventional chemical rockets, are fuel-efficient and allow for easy on/off operation, enabling "flexible" usage. One type, the ion engine, was the main engine of the spacecraft "Hayabusa," pioneering the era of "all-electric" satellites where all onboard engines are electric propulsion systems.

Another type of electric propulsion system, the "Hall thruster," has been adopted for the lunar orbital platform "Gateway" and is also used in SpaceX's Starlink satellites, which form a space-based internet communication network. In our laboratory, research is being conducted on cluster systems that bundle multiple Hall thrusters, as well as on various electric propulsion systems such as the pulsed plasma thruster (PPT), which has an intermittent structure and generates thrust through pulsed operation. The aim is to enable "flexible" space transportation systems with increased freedom in rocket system design and application range.

Simulation of an ion engine.