MIT-Developed Dual-Mode Propulsion System to Undergo In-Space Testing
MIT researchers have demonstrated that a single propellant, ASCENT, can power both chemical and electrospray electric thrusters on small satellites, eliminating the need for separate fuel systems. The finding, published in the Journal of Propulsion and Power, builds on U.S. Air Force fuel research and will be tested in space aboard NASA's Green Propulsion Dual Mode CubeSat, scheduled to launch no earlier than November 2025. The technology could significantly expand the capabilities of small satellites, potentially enabling missions as far as Mars or the asteroid belt.
Engineers at MIT's Space Propulsion Laboratory have shown that ASCENT (Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic Propellant), an ionic liquid fuel originally developed by the U.S. Air Force as a safer alternative to hydrazine, can successfully power miniature electrospray thrusters in addition to the chemical thrusters it was designed for. Ground tests conducted on a magnetic levitation platform inside a vacuum chamber demonstrated that ASCENT performed comparably to conventional ionic liquid propellants, generating enough thrust to spin a CubeSat and operating continuously for up to 100 hours. The key advantage is that a single shared fuel tank could replace the separate propellant systems previously required for chemical and electric propulsion, reducing weight and complexity on small spacecraft. NASA's Green Propulsion Dual Mode mission — a briefcase-sized CubeSat carrying one chemical thruster and four electrospray thrusters, all fed from one tank — will provide the first in-space validation of this concept when it launches in November. If successful, the technology could enable CubeSats to make long, fuel-efficient interplanetary journeys using electric thrusters, then switch to chemical thrusters for rapid maneuvers near a destination such as Mars or the asteroid belt. Closer to Earth, the dual-mode system could also allow satellite constellations to reposition quickly in response to fast-moving weather events.
Limitations & open questions
The study does not address the long-term degradation of ASCENT in electrospray thrusters compared to conventional ionic liquid propellants, nor does it quantify the specific impulse or efficiency trade-offs between ASCENT and standard electrospray fuels under extended operation.
What different sources said
- Space.comCenter
Thruster breakthrough? New 2-in-1 propulsion system is about to get an in-space test
- Science DailyCenter
MIT’s new spacecraft engine could send tiny satellites to Mars
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