Microwave electrothermal thruster, also known as MET, is a propulsion device that converts microwave energy[1] (a type of electromagnetic radiation) into thermal (or heat) energy. These thrusters are predominantly used in spacecraft propulsion, more specifically to adjust the spacecraft’s position and orbit. A MET sustains and ignites a plasma in a propellant gas. This creates a heated propellant gas which in turn changes into thrust due to the expansion of the gas going through the nozzle. A MET’s heating feature is like one of an arc-jet (another propulsion device); however, due to the free-floating plasma, there are no problems with the erosion of metal electrodes, and therefore the MET is more efficient.[2]
^Bonnal, Christophe; DeLuca, Luigi T.; Haidn, Oskar J.; Frolov, Sergey M. (2009). Progress in Propulsion Physics Vol.1. EDP Sciences. pp. 425–438.
^US 10753346, Sherman, Daniel R.; Lukas, Edward & Quon, Brandon et al., "Control system for a microwave electrothermal thruster", published 2020-08-25, assigned to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.
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