Unexpectedly, Applied Sciences has a paper for us (vol. 15 #21: 2 Nov ‘25):
Special Issue: Advances in Deep Space Probe Navigation: 2nd Edition
Quarta, A. A. Interplanetary Mission Performance Assessment of a TANDEM Electric Thruster-Based Spacecraft art. 11711 app152111711
The new TANDEM implementation of electric propulsion ranges from 1 kW power, to 25 kW, via two operating modes. Hence, “TANDEM” as an aptronym. Why would anyone need 25 kW of electric thrust? Either GTO-to-Geosynch raising in under six months, or a deep space mission. Hmmm… a deep space mission like ARM (Asteroid Retrieval Mission)! One of the program requirements of ARM was in-flight demonstration and risk reduction of multi-kilowatt thrusters and their power systems. The dream is not dead: Quarta examines such high-power missions, such as asteroid probes. Again, asteroid landing is not landing, more like docking. The propulsive requirement is to get there, not not crashing once you get there.