Propellants for Electric Propulsion: Xenon, Krypton, Argon and Iodine
Is there enough xenon for the constellation boom, and what do the alternatives cost?
Chapter summary
xenon is the best-performing practical propellant for Hall thrusters but is rare: it is recovered as a by-product of air separation at large steel and industrial plants, world production is a few tens of tonnes a year, and electric propulsion is estimated to account for up to about 30% of demand.
Key takeaways
- 1
Prices are volatile: a tracker reported about $2,800–2,900 per kilogram in early 2026, while other sources quote $5,000 or more, and the 2022 war in Ukraine disrupted supply from former Soviet plants.
- 2
Large buyers have moved: SpaceX flew krypton on early Starlink satellites and argon on its second generation.
- 3
Krypton costs roughly a tenth of xenon; argon a tiny fraction.
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Electric Propulsion: Hall Thrusters and Their Makers
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