HISTORY

1903 -- K. E. Tsiolkovsky derived the “Tsiolkovsky” or “Rocket”

Equation commonly used to show the benefits of electric propulsion 
1906 -- R. Goddard wrote about the possibility of electric rockets  1911
-- K. E. Tsiolkovsky independently wrote about electric rockets  1929 -
- World’s first electric thruster demonstrated by V. P. Glushko at the Gas
Dynamics Laboratory in Lenningrad  1960 -- First “broad-beam” ion
thruster operated in the U.S. at the NASA Lewis (now Glenn) Research
Center
1964 -- First successful sub-orbital demonstration of an ion engine (SERT
I) by the U.S.  1964 -- First use of an electric thruster on an interplanetary
probe (Zond 2) by the USSR  1970 -- Long duration test of mercury ion
thrusters in space (SERT II) by the U.S.  1972 -- First operation of a
xenon stationary plasma thruster (SPT-50) in space (Meteor) by the USSR
 1993 -- First use of hydrazine arcjets on a commercial communications
satellite (Telstar 401) by the U.S.