[JumpCrisscross]

> For the power required to generate minimal thrust, this will not be useful in low orbit

A recent paper [1] quotes this system's predicted efficiency at 1.2 mN/kW. Hall thrusters, a propellant-throwing electric engine, perform at 60 mN/kW. Non-propellant systems like light sails, laser propulsion and photon rockets perform around 0.0033 to 0.0067 mN/kW.

If this works, and that's a big if, a 50x performance improvement over the prototype is not unrealistic.

[1] https://regmedia.co.uk/2016/11/09/q_thruster.pdf

[sandworm101]

But how big will the panels need be? And how much extra aerodynamic drag will they create in a low orbit?