Superconducting thruster cuts power and mass for space propulsion

by Riko Seibo
Singapore (SDX) Feb 25, 2026

Small satellites have become attractive for space missions because they offer low cost and flexibility, but their growth has been limited by the lack of compact, efficient propulsion systems that work well in the vacuum of space. In orbit, spacecraft can only change their motion through reaction force, and traditional chemical rockets produce thrust by burning fuel to generate high temperature gases that are expelled at high speed. This approach is highly inefficient, with more than 90 percent of a rocket's launch mass often devoted to propellant, which restricts payload capacity and drives up mission costs.

Electric propulsion offers a different path by acting like a space electric vehicle that uses electrical energy to accelerate charged particles, or plasma, to generate thrust. By relying on electromagnetic forces rather than chemical energy release, electric propulsion systems can achieve much higher efficiency than conventional chemical engines and can sustain thrust over longer periods. That makes them especially attractive for deep space missions, orbit raising, and station keeping for advanced satellite constellations, where propellant savings translate directly into longer mission lifetimes and reduced launch mass.

Within electric propulsion, magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters, or MPDTs, stand out as a high performance option that uses strong magnetic fields interacting with electric currents to accelerate plasma to extremely high velocities. In simple terms, an MPDT functions like a space electromagnetic cannon that directs and accelerates hot plasma using magnetic fields, delivering propulsion efficiency eight to ten times higher than traditional chemical rockets. However, conventional MPDTs depend on massive copper electromagnetic coils that are typically heavier than 150 kilograms and draw 200 to 300 kilowatts of power, comparable to the electricity consumption of a small community, which makes them difficult to integrate on miniature spacecraft platforms.

A research team led by Professor Jinxing Zheng at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has now reported a major advance by developing China's first compact high temperature superconducting magnetoplasmadynamic thruster. The team replaced the bulky, energy intensive copper coils with YBCO superconducting material that operates at liquid nitrogen temperatures of about minus 196 degrees Celsius. This change allowed them to cut power consumption from 285 kilowatts to less than 1 kilowatt and reduce system mass from 220 kilograms to 60 kilograms, enabling lighter and more affordable satellite propulsion systems that place less demand on on board power supplies.

According to the authors, these reductions in mass and power open the way for small and medium satellites to carry a powerful, efficient propulsion heart without the penalty of oversized electrical systems and heavy structures. Lighter propulsion hardware and lower power draw can ease spacecraft thermal management, simplify system integration, and support more flexible mission profiles. The work, published in the journal National Science Review under the title "High performance in high-temperature superconducting MPD thrusters: Analytical MHD modeling and experimental demonstration," highlights how high temperature superconductors can solve long standing bottlenecks for advanced electric propulsion.

Experimental results from the new thruster show that it achieved a specific impulse of 3,265 seconds with an input power of 12 kilowatts, indicating that it can deliver sustained thrust with very low propellant consumption. For comparison, typical chemical rockets offer specific impulses of about 300 seconds, so the superconducting MPDT provides an order of magnitude improvement in propellant efficiency. This performance can sharply reduce fuel requirements and launch costs for spacecraft, especially for missions that require large velocity changes or extended operational lifetimes.

Beyond the hardware demonstration, the research team established a comprehensive analytical magnetohydrodynamic model that links magnetic field strength, mass flow rate, and thrust performance in the high temperature superconducting MPDT. The model provides a detailed description of how plasma behavior and electromagnetic forces work together inside the thruster channel, and it offers a predictive tool to guide future design optimization. By accurately capturing the interplay between operating parameters and performance, the model can help engineers tailor thrusters to specific mission requirements and spacecraft constraints.

The breakthrough indicates that future spacecraft equipped with high temperature superconducting MPDTs could meet mission objectives with significantly lower propellant mass and reduced overall system weight. That capability could support more ambitious deep space exploration, enable agile maneuvering for satellite constellations, and lower barriers to entry for emerging space actors. As high temperature superconducting materials and cryogenic support technologies continue to mature, compact superconducting thrusters may become a key component of next generation, high efficiency space transportation architectures.

Research Report:High performance in high-temperature superconducting MPD thrusters: Analytical MHD modeling and experimental demonstration