1. PROTOTYPING AND OPTIMIZATION OF A MINIATURE MICROWAVE-FREQUENCY ION THRUSTER Open Access Author: Asif, Mohammed Title: PROTOTYPING AND OPTIMIZATION OF A MINIATURE MICROWAVE-FREQUENCY ION THRUSTER Graduate Program: Aerospace Engineering Keywords: space propulsionplasma propulsionpropulsionelectric propulsionrocket propulsionion enginesmicrowave thrusterion thrusterexperimental research on electric propulsioncomputational research on electric propulsionminiaturization of electric propulsionion thrusters for CubeSatselectric propulsion for CubeSats File: Download Asif_Thesis_Final.pdf Committee Members: Sven Bilen, Thesis Advisor/Co-AdvisorMichael M. Micci, Thesis Advisor/Co-AdvisorAmy Ruth Pritchett, Committee Member