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Reference.org
Pulsed plasma thruster
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<p>A pulsed plasma thruster (PPT), also known as a Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR), or as a plasma jet engine (PJE), is a form of <a href="/facts/Electrically_powered_spacecraft_propulsion/8Qja4u8h">electric spacecraft propulsion</a>. PPTs are generally considered the simplest form of electric spacecraft propulsion and were the first form of electric propulsion to be flown in space, having flown on two Soviet probes (<a href="/facts/Zond_2/YcjXsUhy">Zond 2</a> and <a href="/facts/Zond_3/cmxRy8r8">Zond 3</a>) starting in 1964. PPTs are generally flown on <a href="/facts/Spacecraft/YQqQaUw0">spacecraft</a> with a surplus of electricity from abundantly available solar energy. </p>