The first two Boeing-built, all-electric satellites have begun an eight-month journey to reach their final orbit after launching atop a Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Falcon 9 rocket earlier this month, ushering in a new era in commercial satellite design.
Unlike chemically propelled satellites, the twin Boeing 702SP spacecraft use xenon-ion thrusters for both station-keeping and orbit-raising maneuvers. Weighing a combined 4,100 kg (9,000 lb.) and offering between 3-7 kw of power each, the all-electric 702SPs are half the weight of equivalent chemical-propulsion satellites, enabling significant cost savings, especially when paired on a low-cost Falcon 9.
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