Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion: A Technology to Improve Sustainability on Space Operations

This paper presents an analysis of the benefits that air-breathing propulsion on satellites might have on environmental sustainability. Air-breathing electric propulsion is an enthralling option as an enabler technology, because it allows to compensate for the atmospheric drag, and thus to operate in very low Earth orbits (VLEO). This technology collects residual atmosphere and makes use of solar power to produce thrust. The use of air as the main propellant reduces the impact of conventional propellant production and preserves the atmosphere. Operations in very low Earth orbits can facilitate the management of satellites at the end of their lives, avoiding the proliferation of space debris, while providing a higher performance during the satellite productive period. The lower operating altitude and the increase in performance could allow for a reduction in spacecraft size and for an improvement of orbit accessibility. This work analyses the consistency between ABEP-based VLEO missions with international space sustainability guidelines and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To make that analysis, a comparative scenario is built between a nanosatellite at low Earth orbit (LEO) without propulsion system and two nanosatellites in VLEO, one with conventional electric propulsion, and an ABEP-based VLEO mission.