QinetiQ T6 Mk4 ion thruster
QinetiQ's T6 Mk4 is the GEO-communications evolution of the BepiColombo-qualified T6 Mk3. ESA documents its 3.3-5 kW operating range with 75-145 mN thrust, higher vibration and shock robustness, and faster thrust initialisation with shorter intervals between firings; ESA records functional and mechanical testing but a life test still outstanding, so current production is not asserted.
Identity
- Aliases
- T6 Mk4T6 HPEPS thruster
- Domains
- spaceflight
- Identity Level
- variant
- Kind
- electric-thruster
- Name
- QinetiQ T6 Mk4 ion thruster
- Status
- development
Details
- Description
- QinetiQ's T6 Mk4 is the GEO-communications evolution of the BepiColombo-qualified T6 Mk3. ESA documents its 3.3-5 kW operating range with 75-145 mN thrust, higher vibration and shock robustness, and faster thrust initialisation with shorter intervals between firings; ESA records functional and mechanical testing but a life test still outstanding, so current production is not asserted.
- Electric Specs
- Input Power Kw Max
- 5
- Input Power Kw Min
- 3.3
- Thrust NMax
- 0.145
- Thrust NMin
- 0.075
- Lineage
- Note
- ESA identifies T6 Mk4 as an evolution of the T6 Mk3 thruster qualified for BepiColombo SEPS, preserving the hardware/application boundary for GEO communications propulsion.
- Related Propulsion System
- Relationship
- direct-derivative-of
- Sources
- Nested value
- Propellants
- xenon
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 15, 2026 at 03:03:43 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 15, 2026 at 03:03:43 UTC
Other
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- ESA's T6 HPEPS project record gives the 3.3 kW/75 mN to 5 kW/145 mN envelope, identifies T6 Mk4 as an evolution of the BepiColombo-qualified T6 Mk3, and records its improved vibration/shock robustness and faster firing initialization; life test remained outstanding in the record.
- Publisher
- European Space Agency
- Title
- T6 High Power Electric Propulsion System Development and Qualification