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An electric propulsion device known as a magnetoplasmadynamic thruster (MPD) accelerates a plasma and produces thrust by combining magnetic and electric fields.
Since MPDs have a very high specific impulse—a metric for a rocket engine’s effectiveness—they have been considered as a viable propulsion technology for spacecraft.
An MPD thruster works on the fundamental premise of ionising a gas to produce plasma, which is subsequently propelled by a magnetic field. The thrust is then generated by ejecting the plasma from the thruster. A collection of coils creates the magnetic field, and a voltage is applied across the plasma to create the electric field.
The high specific impulse of MPD thrusters—which can be many times higher than that of ordinary chemical rockets—is one of their main advantages. As a result, they can travel at higher speeds while consuming less propellant, which can be a big benefit for prolonged space trips.
MPD thrusters, however, also come with some difficulties. They have a large operating power requirement, which can be a problem for missions when power is limited. They may also produce a lot of electromagnetic interference, which interferes with the systems of other spacecraft.
Notwithstanding these difficulties, research and development on MPD thrusters is still ongoing in the realm of electric propulsion. These may make it possible for a new generation of spacecraft to fly farther and more quickly than ever before.
Global Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster market accounted for $XX Billion in 2022 and is anticipated to reach $XX Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of XX% from 2023 to 2030.
Modern electric propulsion systems such as magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters (MPDTs) or Lorentz Force Accelerators (LFAs) are able to produce high thrust with extremely high specific impulses[4].
The Applied-Field Magnetoplasmadynamic (AF-MPD) Thruster, which produces thrust by combining magnetic and electric fields, is the most promising technology for high demands.
The two primary locations for MPD research globally are Nagoya University in Japan and the Institute of Space Systems at the University of Stuttgart in GermanyThe 100kW class SX3 thruster in Stuttgart has shown the best experimental results[2].
In addition, studies investigating the use of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) in thrusters are also underway.High-power space missions are made possible by the SUPREME project’s inclusion of HTS.
