The last years have seen many GEO telecommunication spacecraft using electric propulsion for orbit raising and station keeping manoeuvres, together with interplanetary missions that require electric propulsion to reach far planets such as Mercury or Mars. This paper looks at the possible issues and advantages of using electric propulsion in European missions and the electric propulsion systems available in Europe. Furthermore, the high controllability of these electric propulsion systems enable missions requiring these stringent requirements. Electric propulsion can help them to achieve this goal due to the high specific impulse and in many cases brings huge benefits as in the case of orbit raising manoeuvres for GEO telecommunication spacecraft. Space mission planners have always tried to reduce the amount of propellant required to bring the spacecraft to the final orbit and reach the required lifetime.
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