Our expert team will explain how your operations can benefit from reliable, secure supplies of spacecraft ion drive propellants from Linde.
Rare Gases for Ion Drive Propellants
Discover how our noble gases xenon, krypton and argon are bringing the payload and efficiency benefits of electric propulsion systems based on ion thrusters to an ever-growing customer base.
High-purity Noble Gases as Spacecraft Propellants
A growing number of satellites and other spacecraft rely on electric propulsion systems with ion drives (also known as ion thrusters). These work by ionizing rare gases such as xenon and krypton or - in some cases - the noble gas argon to form plasma. The positive ions in the plasma are accelerated by an electric field. In Hall-effect thrusters, an additional magnetic field is used to improve ionization efficiency. The plasma is ejected at high velocity to provide thrust for maneuvering or station-keeping. These ion drives are solar-powered and are so efficient that 10 kg of xenon gas, for instance, can see a small satellite through its multi-year lifecycle.
With more satellites than ever being sent into space, demand for xenon, krypton and argon is also on an upward trajectory. As these gases are not abundant in our atmosphere, specialized air separation steps are required to get a meaningful quantity of ultra-pure gas for these applications. Our expertise in this area makes us a leading, trusted supplier of these important propellants.