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Micropropulsion Technologies 239

L

anode

+
cathode

insulator
R

FIGURE 11.5 Inductive energy store (IES) PPU for the VAT. (Source: Alameda Applied
Sciences Corp.)

anode

cathode

plasma

FIGURE 11.6 Sandwich-style thruster. (Source: Alameda Applied Sciences Corp.)

inherent losses due to the use of power semiconductors. The summary of the VAT is
shown in Table 11.2 with a picture of the complete system shown in Figure 11.7.

11.2.3 FEEP

While companies in the U.S. concentrate on the fabrication and validation of colloid
thrusters, the European approach has been to develop field emission or field effect
electric propulsion (FEEP) systems based on the liquid metal ion source (LMIS)-

© 2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC