Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters
Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters are a type of electric propulsion system that uses magnetic and electric fields to ionize and accelerate propellant. The propellant is first ionized into a plasma state, and then accelerated by the Lorentz force, which is the force that results from the interaction between a magnetic field and an electric current. MPD thrusters are capable of producing very high exhaust velocities, which makes them ideal for deep space missions that require high delta-v maneuvers. They are also very efficient, with specific impulses that can be up to ten times higher than those of chemical rockets. However, MPD thrusters require a lot of power to operate, which limits their use to large spacecraft with ample power supplies.
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