ELECTRIC PROPULSION ACTIVITIES IN EUROPE.

4 European ion and plasma thrusters reached the state of an engineering model or are under industrialization by ESA-contracts. Since 1972, ESA is sponsoring the field-emission cesium-ion type FEEP. Industrialization started at SEP-France in 1981. From 1970 to 1980, the German 10-cm mercury rf-thruster RIT-10 (10 mN) has been ground-qualified (MBB, DFVLR-Stuttgart). For a flight-test onboard EURECA (1987), the NSSK-engine is being modified by xenon. The primary propulsion motor RIT-35 (200 mN) is being developed for 'primitive bodies' rendezvous-missions. In 1980, the SNIA-BPD-Company, Italy, took over the industrialization of the teflon-fed MPD-thruster. University activities are underway at Stuttgart, Munich, Giessen, Rome, Pisa, Vienna, and Madrid. In 1983, ESA published an assessment study 'AGORA' on a multiple asteroid rendezvous mission using a solar-electric drive.