Very low Earth orbit (VLEO) is an important regime for satellite applications and scientific missions; however, its practical utilization is constrained by significant atmospheric drag, which poses challenges to mission sustainability and operation at lower altitudes. Although the air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) concept offers a fundamental solution to this issue, its feasibility has not yet been validated in orbit. In this study, we propose the ABIE-X mission, which aims at an on-orbit proof-of-concept demonstration of the air-breathing ion engine (ABIE). The mission focuses on validating the core physical processes involved in ABIE thrust generation, namely air capture and compression, and ionization. By integrating technologies of air intake and electron-cyclotron-resonance (ECR) ion engine, an experimental system is designed to assess the feasibility of these strongly environment-dependent processes, while simultaneously acquiring performance and operational condition data essential for future ABIE-equipped satellite systems. This paper presents an overview of the ABIE-X mission and the design and development status of the experimental system established to realize this novel concept.
Yamamoto et al. (Fri,) studied this question.