Vacuum testing of the microwave plasma thruster (MPT)

Summary form only given, as follows. Microwave Plasma Thruster (MPT) is a type of electrothermal thruster, which is composed of three parts: the microwave generating subsystem, the propellant supplying subsystem and the resonator (the thruster). The principle is that microwave power at a given frequency is introduced into a resonant cavity and resonates in it, and by this means the microwave power is coupled to a gas used as propellant which is ionized, forming free-floating plasma in the resonant cavity, and the plasma flow is jetted from a nozzle to produce thrust. Its characteristics are small volume, light weight, long lifetime, simple structure, high efficiency, low cost and moderated specific impulse. Through testing and analysis, MPT can start up reliably and work steadily in ground and vacuum conditions.