Synchronous Polyphase Alternating Current Electrostatic Ion Thruster (SPACE-IT) for propulsion of spacecraft, such as for example satellites, mini-rockets, etc.

An electrostatic ion thruster for propulsion of spacecraft, comprising:

• an ionization chamber with a central axis, said ionization chamber including a propellent gas inlet port for a propellent gas to be ionized in said ionization chamber, an inlet, an exit and an igniter between said propellent gas inlet port and said inlet of said ionization chamber;
• a propellent gas source for a propellent gas to be ionized, said propellent gas source connected to said propellent gas inlet port and adapted to supply an ionizable propellent gas through said propellent gas inlet port into said ionization chamber;
• an ion accelerator arranged at said exit of said ionization chamber opposite said propellent gas inlet port in the direction of the central axis of said ionization chamber, said ion accelerator including at least three acceleration grids spaced apart from each other in the direction of the central axis of said ionization chamber and each extending perpendicular to the central axis of said ionization chamber;
• an ignition circuit electrically connected to said igniter and adapted together with said igniter to generate an electrostatic field that is able to generate negative ions and free electrons of a supplied propellent gas that are transported to said inlet of said ionization chamber by the nominal flow of said propellent gas,
• at least three high frequency, coils surrounding at least a part of the ionization chamber;
• a high frequency ionization power generating unit electrically connected to said at least three high frequency coils to generate a linear traveling electromagnetic field travelling from said inlet towards to said exit of the ionization chamber and able to ionize said propellent gas in said ionization chamber;
• and
• a polyphase high voltage high frequency power generating unit electrically connected to said at least three acceleration grids of said ion accelerator and adapted together with said acceleration grids to accelerate synchronously said generated ions and said free electrons from an inlet towards an exit of said ion accelerator.