Pulsed plasma thruster

A pulsed plasma thruster (PPT), also known as a Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR), or as a plasma jet engine (PJE), is a form of electric spacecraft propulsion.[1] PPTs are generally considered the simplest form of electric spacecraft propulsion and were the first form of electric propulsion to be flown in space, having flown on two Soviet probes (Zond 2 and Zond 3) starting in 1964.[2] PPTs are generally flown on spacecraft with a surplus of electricity from abundantly available solar energy.

  1. ^ "NASA Glenn Research Center PPT". National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA). Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  2. ^ P. Shaw (30 September 2011). "Pulsed Plasma Thrusters for Small Satellites". Doctoral Thesis - University of Surrey. Retrieved 2020-06-27.