Abstract: The thruster comprises, on a common plate, a plurality of main annular ionization and acceleration channels having axes that are not parallel and that converge in the outlet direction of the channels. A magnetic circuit sets up a magnetic field in the annular channels. The thruster also has a hollow cathode, a device for regulating the ionizable gas feed rate to each annular channel, and a device for controlling the ion discharge acceleration current in the channels. The direction of the thrust vector of the thruster can be controlled without significantly increasing the mass of the thruster.

Abstract: The closed electron drift plasma thruster uses a magnetic circuit to create a magnetic field in a main annular channel for ionization and acceleration, said magnetic circuit comprises: an essentially radial first outer pole piece; a conical second outer pole piece; an essentially radial first inner pole piece; a conical second inner pole piece; a plurality of outer magnetic cores surrounded by outer coils to interconnect the first and second outer pole pieces; an axial magnetic core surrounded by a first inner coil and connected to the first inner pole piece; and a second inner coil placed upstream from the outer coils. The thruster also comprises a plurality of radial arms included in the magnetic circuit, and a structural base which is separate from the magnetic circuit and which serves, amongst other things, to cool the coils.