Later this year, India plans to test an indigenous electric thruster to guide satellites into desired orbits, a technology that is expected to make spacecraft lighter and more powerful.
Delivering the Sardar Patel Lecture at Akashvani, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath said that the first technology demonstration satellite (TDS-01) using electric propulsion developed in India will be launched in December. said.
TDS-01 will also demonstrate an indigenously built Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA), which is an integral part of various communications and microwave remote sensing payloads on the satellite.
The four-ton communications satellite carries more than two tons of liquid fuel, which is used to fire the thrusters that maneuver the satellite from its launch orbit to its intended geostationary orbit. These thrusters are also fired to maintain the satellite in its desired orbit if it deviates from its orbit as a result of atmospheric drag or the gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon.
“A 4-ton satellite carries 2-2.5 tonnes of fuel. With electric propulsion, the required fuel is reduced to just 200 kg,” Somanath said.
He said electric propulsion systems (EPS) use propellant gases such as ionized argon using solar power as fuel instead of chemicals.
