Penny-sized thrusters for microsatellites

MIT researchers used micro-manufacturing technologies to build ion thrusters smaller than a penny that could propel CubeSats in space. Smaller than a milk carton, CubSats are relatively inexpensive and several can be delivered into orbit on a single rocket. From MIT News:

Engineering propulsion systems for small satellites could solve the problem of space junk: CubeSats could propel down to lower orbits to burn up, or even act as galactic garbage collectors, pulling retired satellites down to degrade in Earth’s atmosphere. However, traditional propulsion systems have proved too bulky for nano satellites, leaving little space on the vessels for electronics and communication equipment.
In contrast, (aeronautics/astronautics professor Paulo) Lozano’s micro thruster design adds little to a satellite’s overall weight. The microchip is composed of several layers of porous metal, the top layer of which is textured with 500 evenly spaced metallic tips. The bottom of the chip contains a small reservoir of liquid — a “liquid plasma” of free-floating ions that is key to the operation of the device.

"MIT-developed ‘micro thrusters’ could propel small satellites"

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Conan Librarian

So I guess the Pirate Bay’s ‘Pirate Satellite’ idea is still optional.
Ramone

Would these also work for reducing bulky EVA modules for space walks? Just bedazzle your space suit with ‘em!
- Conan Librarian
  
  I’m not sure thats a good idea, in those life-threatening situations you want to have more power.
  - Ramone
    
    That’s why you use a bedazzler–they’ll be all over!
jandrese

Of course the article failed to answer the one question that first popped up in everybodies mind: How much thrust can each one of these motors produce per second, and over its lifetime? Ultimately it is still ejecting mass to make thrust, so there has to be a fuel, and that fuel will eventually be exhausted.

Ion drives are typically very efficient, but they do still run out of fuel and when you’re starting with something really small there isn’t much room for spare propellant.
- Conan Librarian
  
  Guidance propulsion systems for stationary objects rarely need to work for extended period of time.
- dragonfrog
  
  Don’t know about the lifetime energy output, but they do mention the force exerted is in the micronewtons. That still seems like it could be useful on a satellite, as it’s subjectively free of gravity and there is essentially no air friction.
  
  If you’re not in a rush, and if, as you noted, the fuel reserve is sufficient, you could do lots of maneuvering.
  
  Every gram of satellite propulsion system you don’t have to hoist into orbit probably represents a huge saving in the rocket fuel required to get it into orbit.
- Boundegar
  
  The first question in my mind was related: what happens to the CubeSat after it’s out of fuel? More space junk, you say? What an excellent solution!
http://www.matthewpetty.com/ Matthew Petty

Imagine the life of a little CubeSat, sent up with one task – to grab a big dead satellite, and to drag it slowly out of orbit to a fiery death.
Now imagine the big satellite wasn’t dead, just no longer viable, or just a bit broken.
“Sorry big fella, just doing my programming”. Sad, or sinister?
Ito Kagehisa

That’s pretty tiny. The smallest ACMs I ever worked with were the size of shotgun shells.
Dan Allard

The words “satellite” and “propel” don’t seem like they belong together to me.