spacex - Why will Starlink satellites use krypton instead of xenon …
To adjust position on orbit, maintain intended altitude, and deorbit, Starlink satellites feature Hall thrusters powered by krypton. (emphasis added) Most of the electric propulsion systems that …
What performance specification would be lower for Krypton than …
May 18, 2019 · For krypton, you need much more energetic electrons than you would for xenon. This significantly increases the erosion rate, which will shorten the life of the thruster.
physics - Why might krypton have a lower utilization fraction than ...
May 31, 2020 · 4 A comment below Why will Starlink satellites use krypton instead of xenon for electric propulsion? links to the 2011 preprint A Performance Comparison of Xenon and …
spacex - How much krypton do Starlink satellites carry when they …
Nov 27, 2020 · Starlink satellites use krypton as propellant. This answer roughly estimates 2.3 kg of Krypton based on a total delta-V of 190 m/s and an exhaust velocity of 20,000 m/s. But how …
What are the tradeoffs in propellant choices for ion/electric based ...
Jul 9, 2024 · Think F = ma, where F in this case is the force of the electric field acting on the ion. If you change fuels (say from xenon to krypton, which is lighter), but don't change field strengths, …
Does Krypton or Xenon produce more thrust in a Hall-effect …
Dec 21, 2022 · I am trying to figure out if Xenon or Krypton produces more thrust for a given weight flow rate of fuel when the engine operates at the same discharge voltages. The …
ion thruster - How much of the world's xenon has been used in ...
Jun 2, 2021 · Krypton is far more common (~1 ppm, over 10x that of xenon), and is produced with similar strategies, so it is a lot cheaper than xenon, at 290 USD per kilogram. SpaceX is …
What is the fate of Krypton exhaust from Starlink thrusters?
Jun 18, 2025 · If the thrusters have a specific impulse of 1500s, that means the krypton atoms are traveling roughly 15 km/s when they exit the nozzle, which exceeds the escape velocity of earth.
How much does it cost to fill an ion thuster with Xenon for a ...
Apr 9, 2015 · The Starlink constellation v1 satellites used Krypton for its ion thrusters. Starlink v2 satellites use Argon. Alibaba shows Krypton at around ~$100 / cubic meter, which is less than …
How much krypton is stored on a Starlink satellite?
Aug 20, 2020 · How much krypton (fuel) is there for the krypton-powered ion thrusters on Starlink satellites and how long does it last?