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Principle: Uses electrical energy to ablate material into plasma, which is then expelled. Advantages: Simplicity, potentially very durable. Typical Use Cases: Satellite attitude control.

Principle: Newton's Third Law (action-reaction), using rapid chemical reactions to expel mass and generate thrust. Advantages: High thrust, well-understood technology. Typical Use Cases: Launch vehicles, escape trajectories.

Principle: Use of electric power sources to accelerate propellant. Advantages: Reduces the propellant mass needed, high specific impulse. Typical Use Cases: Geostationary satellite stationkeeping, interplanetary missions.

Principle: Combustion of solid propellant to produce thrust. Advantages: Simplicity, reliability, and instant start-up. Typical Use Cases: Missile launchers, space shuttle boosters.

Principle: Use of electric fields to accelerate positively charged ions. Advantages: High specific impulse, efficiency. Typical Use Cases: Deep space missions, long-duration flights.

Principle: Rocket engine with an altitude-compensating nozzle. Advantages: Maintains efficiency across a wide range of altitudes. Typical Use Cases: Experimental aircraft and launch vehicles.

Principle: Heat from nuclear reactions heats propellant, which then expands and is ejected. Advantages: Higher specific impulse than chemical propulsion. Typical Use Cases: Potential for future Mars missions, deep space exploration.

Principle: Nuclear power is converted to electrical power, which is then used to drive an electric propulsion system. Advantages: Long-duration missions without solar power, high specific impulse. Typical Use Cases: Deep space exploration, missions in shadowed craters or asteroids.

Principle: Acceleration of ions through a magnetic field perpendicular to electric field. Advantages: Greater efficiency, longer operational life than chemical propulsion. Typical Use Cases: Stationkeeping, orbit transfers.

Principle: Combustion of liquid propellant in a combustion chamber to generate thrust. Advantages: Throttle control, higher specific impulse. Typical Use Cases: Orbital insertion, precise maneuvers.

Principle: Lorentz force is used to accelerate plasma, producing thrust. Advantages: High specific impulse, efficient for large spacecraft. Typical Use Cases: Advanced concepts for long-duration missions.

Principle: Utilizing solar radiation pressure for propulsion. Advantages: No propellant needed, continuous acceleration. Typical Use Cases: Concept for interstellar travel, small satellite propulsion.

Principle: Electrical energy generates a high-temperature arc to heat and expel propellant. Advantages: Higher specific impulse than traditional chemical thrusters. Typical Use Cases: Satellite propulsion, stationkeeping.

Principle: Combustion of cryogenically stored propellants. Advantages: High specific impulse and thrust. Typical Use Cases: Satellite launch, upper stage rockets.

Principle: Oxygen from the atmosphere is used in the combustion process instead of carrying it onboard. Advantages: Reduces the weight of the fuel. Typical Use Cases: Hypersonic aircraft, potential future reusable launch vehicles.