New safer, inexpensive way to propel small satellites

EurekAlert  July 16, 2019 Researchers at Purdue University have created a novel micropropulsion system for nanosatellite applications that uses a liquid propellant for Lorentz-force pulsed-plasma accelerator and extended lifetime ignition system driven by nanosecond long pulses. The liquid propellant does not create the contamination risks to the subsystems that we see with current options. Overall popularity of the CubeSats is driven heavily by the great advancement in miniaturization of electronic components and sensors that allows for new kinds of space missions and measurements using a CubeSat…read more.