Goebel D.M., Katz I. Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion: Ion and Hall Thrusters

Wiley, 2008. 508 p. — ISBN: 978-0-470-42927-3Electric propulsion is a technology aimed at achieving thrust with high exhaust velocities, which results in a reduction in the amount of propellant required for a given space mission or application compared to other conventional propulsion methods. Reduced propellant mass can significantly decrease the launch mass of a spacecraft or satellite, leading to lower costs from the use of smaller launch vehicles to deliver a desired mass into a given orbit or to a deep-space target.