A pulsed plasma thruster using laser pulses to generate its plasma out of practically any solid propellant:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269207987_Short_Pulse_Operation_of_a_Laser-Assisted_Pulsed_Plasma_Thruster
7200s Isp is achieved, and this time the plasma is captured on camera.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269207987_Short_Pulse_Operation_of_a_Laser-Assisted_Pulsed_Plasma_Thruster
7200s Isp is achieved, and this time the plasma is captured on camera.
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Comments
So a "space gas station" could sell unsorted silicate for "cheap" and higher energy (lower mass) propellant for more. With the ship using more or less energy from its own reactor to run the engine?
Interesting propellants would be something very dense, like lead, for volume-limited cubesats, or extremely abundant, like unprocessed regolith for spacecraft