{{Short description|Spacecraft propulsion device}} thumb|A set of chemical thrusters used on the Apollo Lunar module for reaction control. A '''thruster''' is a spacecraft propulsion device used for orbital station-keeping, attitude control, or long-duration, low-thrust acceleration, often as part of a reaction control system. A vernier thruster or gimbaled engine are particular cases used on launch vehicles where a secondary rocket engine or other high thrust device is used to control the attitude of the rocket, while the primary thrust engine (generally also a rocket engine) is fixed to the rocket and supplies the principal amount of thrust.<ref name=thefreedictionary-thruster /><ref name=collins-thruster /><ref name=braeunig-propulsion /><ref name=spacepropulsion-propulsionsystems /><ref name=collinsonline-thruster />
Some devices that are used or proposed for use as thrusters are: *Cold gas thruster *Electrohydrodynamic thruster, using ionized air (only for use in an atmosphere) *Electrodeless plasma thruster, electric propulsion using ponderomotive force *Electrostatic ion thruster, using high-voltage electrodes *Hall effect thruster, a type of ion thruster *Ion thruster, using beams of ions accelerated electrically *Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster, electric propulsion using the Lorentz force *Pulsed inductive thruster, a pulsed form of ion thruster *Pulsed plasma thruster, using current arced across a solid propellant *RF resonant cavity thruster, an electromagnetic thruster using microwaves
== See also == * Liquid apogee engine – A liquid-propellant rocket used as the primary propulsion device on geostationary orbit satellites. * Apogee kick motor – A solid-fuel rocket used as the primary propulsion device to circularize satellites inserted into a transfer orbit.
== References == {{Reflist|35 em|refs= <ref name=braeunig-propulsion>{{cite web |url=http://www.braeunig.us/space/propuls.htm |title=Basics of flight: Rocket Propulsion |publisher=Rocket & Space Technology |access-date=2016-09-21}}</ref> <ref name=collinsonline-thruster>{{cite web |url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/thruster |title=Thruster |publisher=Collins English Dictionary |access-date=2016-09-21}}</ref> <ref name=collins-thruster>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/thruster |title=thruster |encyclopedia=Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged (Hardcover) |edition=12th |date= |year=2014 |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |isbn=9780007522743 |access-date=2016-09-21}}</ref> <ref name=thefreedictionary-thruster>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/thruster |title=Thruster |publisher=the Free Dictionary by Farlex |access-date=2016-09-21}}</ref> <ref name=spacepropulsion-propulsionsystems>{{cite web |url=http://www.space-propulsion.com/spacecraft-propulsion/propulsion-systems/index.html |title=space Propulsion Systems |publisher=Airbus Safran Launchers |access-date=2016-09-21}}</ref> }}
{{spacecraft propulsion}} {{wiktionary|thruster|thrusters}}
Category:Spacecraft propulsion