Ioannis G. Mikellides
Papers
3
Total Citations
70
H-Index
3
About
Dr. Ioannis G. Mikellides is a leading figure in electric propulsion, whose research has been pivotal in advancing spacecraft propulsion systems for NASA’s most ambitious missions. His work primarily focuses on the physics of plasma thrusters, particularly Hall thrusters and ion engines, with a strong emphasis on magnetic shielding and thruster erosion. Dr. Mikellides’s most influential contribution is his leadership in developing the 12.5 kW Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding (HERMeS), a groundbreaking thruster designed for the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission. This work, cited 47 times, demonstrated how magnetic fields can virtually eliminate erosion of thruster walls, dramatically extending operational life. He also made key contributions to the Nuclear-Electric Pulsed Inductive Thruster (NuPIT), analyzing its potential for high-power nuclear-electric propulsion missions like Prometheus. Additionally, his combined numerical and experimental assessments of hollow cathode wear in the Xenon Ion Propulsion System (XIPS) have helped reshape NASA’s life-qualification approaches for electric thrusters, reducing reliance on costly, time-consuming life tests. Dr. Mikellides’s research has been instrumental in making long-duration, high-power electric propulsion a viable reality for deep-space exploration.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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