MIT Engine Could Send Small Satellites to Mars

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) engineers have developed a new spacecraft propulsion system. It combines the strengths of chemical rockets with the efficiency of electric thrusters. This technology could allow small satellites greater flexibility in space. Future spacecraft could use a single propellant for both rapid movements and precise adjustments.

The system uses a specialized fuel that works with both chemical and electric propulsion systems. These technologies typically require separate propellants and hardware. This adds weight and complexity to spacecraft. The new approach simplifies the system. It allows for both quick bursts of speed and efficient long-range propulsion from one compact unit.

Amelia Bruno, a former postdoc in MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, led the research. Her team demonstrated that a “green monopropellant” can power both chemical and miniature electric thrusters. The U.S. Air Force originally developed this monopropellant for chemical propulsion systems. It is a safer alternative to hydrazine, a toxic fuel.

Electrospray thrusters are tiny rocket engines. They use electric fields to charge particles in a liquid propellant. These particles are then ejected into space, creating thrust. Chemical thrusters provide powerful bursts of thrust. They allow spacecraft to accelerate, decelerate, or change position quickly. Combining these capabilities with a single fuel expands the potential of small satellites.

The team is collaborating with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the Green Propulsion Dual Mode mission. This mission will test the technology in orbit. A briefcase-sized CubeSat will carry one chemical thruster and four electrospray thrusters. All will draw fuel from a single tank. If successful, this technology could enable small satellites to travel to Mars or the asteroid belt.

The research was published in the *Journal of Propulsion and Power*. It was supported in part by NASA. Paulo Lozano, the Miguel Alemán Velasco Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT, co-authored the study.