Electrospray Thrusters for Spacecraft Propulsion

Electrospray Thrusters for Spacecraft Propulsion: Fundamentals and Technology covers the fundamentals and underlying physics of electrosprays and how they are used in controlling thruster performance. The book begins with a historical overview, exploring how this technology has been rapidly growing with the emergence of small satellites and CubeSats. It covers a variety of topics such as electrospray plumes, interfacing with spacecraft, dual propulsion, fluid feed systems, hybrid concepts, and future developments. It will be a valuable resource for aerospace and mechanical engineers, researchers and advanced students taking electric propulsion courses.

• Provides a comprehensive understanding of the physical implementations, past failures, and current working implementations of electrosprays
• Discusses the origins of electrospray technology, historical hurdles, and directions in which the technology is moving
• Features an up-to-date description of existing thruster/spacecraft interface and interaction with spacecraft