kylmäkaasutus

Kylmäkaasutus, also known as cold gas thruster or cold gas propulsion, is a form of reaction propulsion system used in spacecraft. It operates by expelling a pressurized gas through a nozzle to generate thrust. Unlike more complex rocket engines, kylmäkaasutus systems do not involve any combustion or chemical reactions. The gas is typically stored at high pressure and released through a precisely shaped nozzle, which accelerates the gas particles. As these particles are ejected, they create a reactive force that propels the spacecraft in the opposite direction, according to Newton's third law of motion.

The propellant used in kylmäkaasutus is often an inert gas such as nitrogen, helium, or even air. The simplicity of the system is a major advantage, as it requires fewer components and is less prone to failure compared to other propulsion methods. This also makes it relatively inexpensive to implement. Kylmäkaasutus systems are best suited for applications requiring small amounts of thrust, such as attitude control for satellites, station-keeping, and minor orbital maneuvers. They are generally not efficient for large-scale propulsion tasks due to the relatively low exhaust velocity of the gas. The specific impulse, a measure of engine efficiency, is typically lower for cold gas thrusters than for chemical rockets. Despite this limitation, their reliability and ease of operation make them a valuable tool in spacecraft engineering for precise control and fine adjustments.