Language
Country/Area
No result found
Air-breathing space propulsion technology: How does ABEP make satellites no longer need fuel in extremely low orbits?
In recent years, space technology breakthroughs have continued to advance, and one of the eye-catching innovations is air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP). This technology allows satellites to operate in low orbits without carrying traditional propulsion fuel and fully utilizes the remaining gas as propellant. Will this change our basic understanding of satellite operations?
Air-breathing electric propulsion technology enables long-duration low-orbit missions, revolutionizing the way satellites are designed and operated.
The working principle of ABEP is relatively simple and mainly consists of an air inlet and an electric thruster. It uses thin gases in low Earth orbit (LEO) and very low earth orbit (VLEO) as propellant. The realization of this technology allows satellites to operate at low altitudes below four hundred kilometers without carrying additional fuel, which is of great significance to fields such as scientific missions, military surveillance, and low-latency communication services.
Gas collected from the air inlet is directed into the thruster, where it is ionized and discharged at high speed, thereby generating thrust. The required power can be provided by existing space power systems, such as a combination of solar panels and batteries.
This technology is expected to extend the operational life of satellites in LEO and VLEO and effectively offset atmospheric drag in space.
According to research, ABEP operates optimally at altitudes below 240 kilometers, breaking through the limitations of traditional propulsion systems in terms of fuel storage and thrust. This means that satellites can perform longer missions in that environment, which will be a rare advantage for extremely challenging scientific exploration missions.
R&D progress
The European Space Agency (ESA) officially announced the first successful RAM-EP prototype in 2018. Its development was mainly carried out by the Italian company SITAEL, and it was first experimentally tested in 2017.
The successful implementation of this technology depends on the early design and development of the air inlet and propeller.
For example, the Institute of Aerospace Systems at the University of Stuttgart is developing its unique RF spiral plasma thruster and is expected to demonstrate its superior performance in future missions. In addition, British startup NewOrbit Space has successfully run its ion engine that relies entirely on the atmosphere in a vacuum environment, paving the way for future applications of this technology.
International Cooperation
In the United States, Busek Co. Inc. applied for a patent for the Air Breathing Hall Effect Thruster (ABHET) in 2004 and began related feasibility studies. These studies focused on the scalability of Mars missions. In addition, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is also conducting similar research, striving to obtain utilization possibilities from different space environments.
Experts believe that the development of these technologies will not only improve the efficiency of satellite operations, but will also open up the way for humans to explore more distant space.
Looking to the future, ABEP's potential is not limited to Earth's low orbit; its applications could be extended to other planets with atmospheres, such as Mars and Venus, and possibly even exploration missions on Saturn's moon Titan.
Conclusion
At the forefront of space exploration, ABEP technology provides a new idea for efficient and sustainable satellite operations. Through this technology, the service life of satellites can be greatly extended and the resource consumption of each mission can be significantly reduced. As the international community continues to invest in space exploration, ABEP may become an important part of future space missions. This also raises an important question: If we can make the most of existing resources in space, what will the future of human exploration look like?
