A development of the low power engine for work on a krypton
... missions, electric propulsion appears to be an undisputed alternative for the chemical thrusters. Also, even the best solutions provided by electric propulsion technology still require optimization despite its more than of half a century history. Currently xenon is the propellant of choice for ion and Hall effect thrusters, however xenon is very expensive, that’s why different cheaper propellants appears as an alternative fuel for advanced electric propulsion thrusters
1. Ким В. П., Меркурьев ...
Using iodine gas as the working fluid for stationary plasma thrusters
The expediency of using iodine as the working fluid in the stationary plasma rocket engines is performed. The use of iodine is alternative for xenon, which due to a number of shortcomings can not be used in the engines of its high power for spacecraft.
1. C. Hillier A. C., Branam R. D., Huffman R. E. et al. Thrust Density Propellants in Hall Thrusters // AIAA 2011-5240. Florida, USA. 2011....
