Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is all set to launch its first indigenously developed electric propulsion system for satellites in December 2024.

ISRO chairman S Somnath has announced that the technology Demonstrator Satellite (TDS-01) will contribute to this advanced propulsion system and will demonstrate India’s capabilities in developing lightweight yet powerful aircraft.

These electric propulsion systems are going to be the game-changer as they will cut the satellite’s overall weight and fuel requirement. A regular four-tonne communication satellite needs around two tonnes of liquid fuel to stay in orbit. However, with the new electric propulsion system (EPS), it only requires 200 kg of fuel.

This will ultimately make the satellite much lighter while still delivering the same performance as a traditional four-tonne satellite. The propulsion system requires gases such as argon which are ionised using solar power. This system is set to reduce the satellite's fuel load and the size of its peripheral systems. Although electric propulsion offers greater fuel efficiency, it generates lower thrust compared to chemical propulsion. This means that while chemical thrusters can quickly propel a satellite to orbit in a week, electric propulsion may take up to three months.

The TDS-01 satellite will also include indigenously developed travelling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs), crucial components for communication and remote sensing payloads. The successful deployment of these TWTAs will be a significant milestone for India's space technology program.

ISRO Chief Somnath said, "The only issue with electric propulsion is it is very low thrust. It will take almost three months to reach the geo orbit from the launching orbit, as against one week in chemical thrusters."

Earlier ISRO used an electric propulsion system for the GSAT-9 or South Asia Satellite launched in 2017, however, that system was taken from Russia.TDS-01 will be the first test of an indigenously-built electric propulsion system.