MICATO

Ion thrusters generate ions—atoms that have been partially stripped of their electrons—and then accelerate them. The thrust of the engine is produced by the ejection of these accelerated ions. Compared to conventional chemical rockets, this thrust is minimal (a few newtons), but it is sufficient for orbital adjustments in space. Currently, hundreds of such thrusters are operating on satellites orbiting the Earth. 

One emerging application of ion thrusters is the navigation of small satellites. These spacecraft, typically no more than a few tens of centimeters in length, are becoming increasingly widespread, and Hungary is among the international leaders in their development. A small satellite equipped with an ion thruster can change direction while orbiting the Earth. 

The MICATO experiment of the HUNOR Program investigates ion thrusters that use the metal indium aboard the International Space Station (ISS). While such devices have been manufactured for years, no fluid dynamics tests have been conducted on them in microgravity—i.e., under actual operating conditions. The goal of these tests is to develop even more efficient thrusters.