S.1 Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Chapter 1: Introduction to ...

Advantages
Simplicity and reliability
Lowest cost propulsion system
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Very low thrust (≥ 0.0045 N) and impulse bit (≥ 10 -5 N) capability
Low contamination of exhaust gases (plume) on spacecraft outer surface
Disadvantages
Low Isp (≤ 950 Ns/kg) ≡ low Issp (≤ 700 Ns/kg) with resulting high system mass
Conclusion
Although of moderate impulse capability, cold gas systems, in particular systems
operating with compressed cold gas, are still of interest in view of their simplicity, high
reliability and repeatability of impulse bit.
Therefore, cold gas has many applications where simplicity is more important than high
performance.
For increasing absolute levels of thrust and impulse requirements for spacecraft
propulsion (e.g. attitude and orbit control), cold gas systems are inadequate and more
energetic propellants generating hot gas for mass expulsion are required.