Electrical propulsion sub-systems for satellites and space probes

摘要

Electrical propulsion has been used on board Western geostationary satellites since mid 1997. During the operational lie of the satellite, the electrical propulsion system is used to maintain the correct inclined orbit (North / South correction). Since the end of 1999, it has also been used to apply the final corrections following orbit transfers. The use of electrical propulsion will soon be extended from these initial applications requiring high or very high specific thrust to more general applications covering all the propulsion requirements of a satellite including the entire transfer to a geostationary orbit. An all-electric satellite has a number of advantages including a considerable reduction in weight, the complete elimination of chemical systems with their associated problems of toxicity and hypergolicity The article also discusses the disadvantages of electrical propulsion systems including those associated with the passage through the Van Allen radiation belts surrounding the Earth.