GHT-1: An Open-Source, Low-Cost Hall Effect Thruster Design for 1U CubeSat Propulsion

We present the design and physics validation of GHT-1, a Hall effect thruster (HET) intended for 1U CubeSat propulsion. The system uses solid iodine propellant and requires no propellant pressurization, enabling integration within standard 0.5U form factors. With 100 g of iodine and an estimated specific impulse of 800–1,500 s, GHT-1 provides approximately 1,550 m/s of delta-v, sufficient for 31 months of orbital maintenance at a nominal 300 km altitude. The complete hardware bill of materials totals USD 454, representing a cost reduction of approximately 98% relative to comparable commercial thrusters. All design files, Arduino flight software, and validation scripts are released as open-source hardware.