These systems are characterized by the propellant used and emission mode of the ion beam. The most common of these, field emission electric propulsion (FEEP), utilize liquid metals as its ion source ...

An electrospray engine applies an electric field to a conductive liquid ... in-orbit maneuvers. The thrust generated by an electrospray emitter is tiny, so electrospray engines typically use ...

P redicting the lifetime of an electric ion thruster is notoriously difficult. You have to account for the chamber wall effects, which are not present in space environments. Researchers within ...