Magnetic Powder as Propellant in Electrostatic Thrusters (MPEP)

The main objectives of this project were to develop a thruster prototype based on magnetic powder electrostatic propulsion and to test it in vacuum with direct thrust measurements. The aim was to check the robustness of the concept and to measure and calculate important performance parameters such as thrust and specific impulse, to allow a comparison with other thruster technologies. This project demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of electrostatic propulsion based on powder emission. After selecting the most promising magnetic powders, the thruster prototype was designed, manufactured and tested.