Research and Development Trends of Pulsed Plasma Thruster for Small Satellites

A pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) is an electric thruster that generates thrust using electromagnetic fields.Due to its relatively low power requirements and simple design, the PPT has been widely utilized for attitude control and orbit transfers in small satellites.In recent years, the increasing diversification of space missions such as small satellite constellations and space-based internet has driven the demand for low-cost CubeSats.Consequently, pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) are being actively employed as propulsion systems for the small satellites.In this paper, the research and development status of PPTs from early prototypes to recent thrusters designed for small satellites, is reviewed, categorized by development year and power consumption.Furthermore, the utilization of PPTs is summarized based on satellite missions.