This development is significant as it represents a step towards more sustainable and cost-effective satellite missions.
It is to be noted that the electric thruster being developed by ISRO is part of the propulsion system for satellites, not a full-fledged rocket.
Unlike traditional chemical rockets, which provide powerful but short-lived thrust, electric thrusters, such as ion thrusters, provide continuous but much weaker thrust. They use electric energy to accelerate ions and create thrust, which is more efficient for long-duration missions in space.
In essence, these thrusters help satellites maneuver and maintain their orbits without using large amounts of chemical propellants. It's a step towards more efficient and sustainable space missions.
ISRO's electric thruster, part of the Technology Demonstrator Satellite (TDS-01), uses indigenously developed electric propulsion to reduce satellite weight and fuel requirements.
Technical Details
Propellant: The thruster uses ionized Argon gas as propellant, which is powered by solar energy.Thrust: Electric propulsion generates lower thrust compared to traditional chemical propulsion, meaning it takes longer to reach the desired orbit. For example, it may take three months to reach geostationary orbit, compared to one week with chemical thrusters.
Fuel Efficiency: A typical four-tonne satellite requires 2-2.5 tonnes of liquid fuel for traditional propulsion, whereas electric propulsion reduces this requirement to just 200 kg.
Weight Reduction: The reduced fuel requirement allows the satellite to be lighter, with a satellite weighing about two tonnes achieving the operational capabilities of a 4-tonne satellite.
Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAS): The TDS-01 will also feature Indian-made TWTAs, which are essential for enhanced communications and data relay capabilities.
Several agencies and companies are involved in ISRO's electric thruster project.
Notably, apart from ISRO's commercial arm, NSIL (NewSpace India Limited), and IN-SPACe, space technology startup Bellatrix Aerospace is also collaborating with ISRO by providing their Arka Hall Effect Thruster and Rudra Green Propulsion System.
Electric Propulsion system by other countries
Electric propulsion systems are widely used by several countries for their spacecraft. NASA has been a pioneer in electric propulsion, using systems like Hall Effect Thrusters (HETs) and lon Thrusters on missions such as the Dawn spacecraft and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The Russian space agency has a long history with electric propulsion, using Electrothermal Thrusters on satellites like the Meteor series and Elektro satellite. European Space Agency (ESA) has utilized electric propulsion on missions like SMART-1, which was the first European mission to the Moon, and the BepiColombo mission to Mercury.
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