ELECTRIC PROPULSION

Now the overwhelming majority of satellites use electric propulsion, but when Mr. Martin was researching the subject in the 1970s not a single satellite used it. Electric propulsion uses electricity -- typically from solar panels -- to ionize and accelerate propellants like xenon or krypton. It offers significantly higher fuel efficiency (more thrust per pound of propellant mass) compared to chemical rockets, enabling longer mission lifetimes and reduced launch weight. It is used for low-thrust applications such as station-keeping, orbit raising and deep-space missions.