Continuing development of the short-pulsed ablative space propulsion system.

Major advancements have been made in solid propellant pulsed plasma propulsion technology. A LES-6 microthruster has operated for 8900 hours in orbit. Millipound thrustors have been developed and tested at performance levels of as low as 112 watts/mlb. Efficiencies of up to 50% and specific impulse values up to 5000 sec have been measured. An improved microthrustor has operated at 207 watts/mlb continuously for 1440 hours. Correlations of design and performance data exist to allow thrustors to be built to meet a particular level of performance.