Abstract

Drastic miniaturization of electronics and ingression of next-generation nanomaterials into space technology have provoked a renaissance in interplanetary flights and near-Earth space exploration using small unmanned satellites and systems. As the next stage, the NASA’s 2015 Nanotechnology Roadmap initiative called for new design paradigms that integrate nanotechnology and conceptually new materials to build advanced, deep-space-capable, adaptive spacecraft. This review examines the cutting edge and discusses the opportunities for integration of nanomaterials into the most advanced types of electric propulsion devices that take advantage of their unique features and boost their efficiency and service life. Finally, we propose a concept of an adaptive thruster.

Details

Title
Recent progress and perspectives of space electric propulsion systems based on smart nanomaterials
Author
Levchenko, I 1 ; S Xu 2 ; Teel, G 3 ; Mariotti, D 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Walker, M L R 5 ; Keidar, M 3 

1  Plasma Sources and Applications Centre, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore; School of Chemistry, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia 
2  Plasma Sources and Applications Centre, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore 
3  Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA 
4  Nanotechnology and Integrated Bio-Engineering Centre (NIBEC), Ulster University, Newtownabbey, UK 
5  School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA 
Pages
1-19
Publication year
2018
Publication date
Feb 2018
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20411723
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02269-7
ProQuest document ID
2009220396
Copyright
© 2018. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.