Review and Prospect on Low Power Electric Propulsion for Micro-satellites

With the continuous expansion of micro-satellite missions, there is an increasing demand for low power propulsion systems in orbit maneuvering, position holding, attitude control, autonomous deorbiting and other missions. Combined with the technical requirements of micro-satellite for high specific impulse, precise thrust and compact structure of low power propulsion systems, the research and application status of RF propulsion, pulsed plasma electric propulsion and other propulsion systems were summarized. By listing application cases from various countries, the performance and technical characteristics of each propulsion system were compared and the key technologies of each propulsion system were summarized. The development trend and subsequent key issues of electric propulsion technology for micro-satellites in china were analyzed and the research results can provide a reference for the scheme selection of the propulsion system of micro-satellites..