Air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) allows for lowering the altitude of spacecraft
operations below 250 km, in the so-called Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEOs). Operations in …

Plasma chemistry of main Earth atmospheric components in VLEOs is implemented in a
hybrid 2D axisymmetric simulation code to assess the air-breathing concept in an …

Radio-frequency and Helicon Plasma Thrusters have emerged as viable electric propulsion
systems due to their high plasma density, thrust density, and useful life. Helicon Plasma …

Maximum-entropy moment methods allow for the modeling of gases from the continuum
regime to strongly rarefied conditions. The development of approximated solutions to the …

Atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) is a type of electric propulsion system that
uses the atmosphere as a propellant source instead of a stored reservoir. This technology is …

To achieve a feasible lifetime of several years, most satellites are deployed in orbits higher
than 400 km. Drag of residual atmosphere causes a slow orbit decay, resulting in the deorbit …

In this work we analyze the performance of a Helicon Plasma Thruster fed with iodine
propellant. To this end, a Global Model has been developed to simulate the plasma source …

Abstract Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) can compensate for lost
momentum of spacecraft operating in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) which has been widely …

This study investigates the preliminary propulsive performances of a cathode-less plasma
thruster with air as its propellant. The analysis is carried out through a global model and …

The testing of atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion intakes is an important step in the
development of functional propulsion systems which provide sustained drag compensation …