Editing CubeSat (section)

==== Electric propulsion ====
[[File:BIT-3 Iodine 60W with BHC-50E.jpg|thumb|The [[Busek]] BIT-3 [[gridded ion thruster]] will be used to propel the [[Lunar IceCube]] 6U CubeSat.]]
CubeSat [[Electrically powered spacecraft propulsion|electric propulsion]] typically uses electric energy to accelerate propellant to high speed, which results in high [[specific impulse]]. Many of these technologies can be made small enough for use in nanosatellites, and several methods are in development. Types of electric propulsion currently being designed for use in CubeSats include [[Hall-effect thruster]]s,<ref>{{Cite web| title = Busek Hall Effect Thrusters| url = http://www.busek.com/technologies__hall.htm| website = www.busek.com| access-date = 2015-11-27}}</ref> [[ion thruster]]s,<ref>{{Cite web| title = Busek Ion Thrusters| url = http://www.busek.com/technologies__ion.htm| website = www.busek.com| access-date = 2015-11-27}}</ref> [[pulsed plasma thruster]]s,<ref>{{Cite web| title = PPTCUP| url = http://www.mars-space.co.uk/projects/pptcup| website = www.mars-space.co.uk| access-date = 2015-11-27| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208051408/http://www.mars-space.co.uk/projects/pptcup| archive-date = 2015-12-08| url-status = dead}}</ref> [[Colloid thruster|electrospray thrusters]],<ref>{{Cite web|title = Busek Electrospray Thrusters| url = http://www.busek.com/technologies__espray.htm| website = www.busek.com| access-date = 2015-11-27}}</ref> and [[Resistojet rocket|resistojets]].<ref>{{Cite web| title = Busek Electrothermal Thrusters| url = http://www.busek.com/technologies__therm.htm| website = www.busek.com| access-date = 2015-11-27| archive-date = 2015-12-08| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208055749/http://www.busek.com/technologies__therm.htm| url-status = dead}}</ref> Several notable CubeSat missions plan to use electric propulsion, such as NASA's [[Lunar IceCube]].<ref name="LunarIceCube2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/lunar-icecube-to-take-on-big-mission-from-small-package |title=Lunar IceCube to Take on Big Mission from Small Package |work=NASA |date=2015 |access-date=2015-09-01 }}</ref> The high efficiency associated with electric propulsion could allow CubeSats to propel themselves to Mars.<ref name="Mars2015">{{cite news |url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2506/1 |title=Mars missions on the cheap |work=The Space Review |location=USA |date=5 May 2014 |access-date=2015-05-21 }}</ref> Electric propulsion systems are disadvantaged in their use of power, which requires the CubeSat to have larger solar cells, more complicated power distribution, and often larger batteries. Furthermore, many electric propulsion methods may still require pressurized tanks to store propellant, which is restricted by the CubeSat Design Specification.

The [[ESTCube-1]] used an [[Electric sail|electric solar-wind sail]], which relies on an electromagnetic field to act as a sail instead of a solid material. This technology used an [[electric field]] to deflect [[protons]] from [[solar wind]] to produce thrust. It is similar to an [[electrodynamic tether]] in that the craft only needs to supply electricity to operate.