Pulsed plasma thruster

A pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) or as a plasma jet engine (PJE), is a form of electric spacecraft propulsion. PPTs are generally considered the simplest form of electric spacecraft propulsion and were the first form of electric propulsion to be flown in space, having flown on two Soviet probes (Zond 2 and Zond 3) starting in 1964. PPTs are generally flown on spacecraft with a surplus of electricity from abundantly available solar energy.

Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPT's) are not to be confused with the Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR) developed by Howe Industries, as the PPT is an electric propulsion system and the PPR is a nuclear propulsion system which uses a significantly different approach.

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