TED-Ed: Will future spacecraft fit in our pockets? - Dhonam Pemba

The video discusses the evolution of spacecraft from large, traditional models to tiny, cost-effective microspacecraft. These microspacecraft can explore distant stars and planets, carrying sensors to collect vast amounts of data. They are individually expendable, allowing exploration of risky environments. Micropropulsion systems, like microfluidic electrospray propulsion, enable these small crafts to propel themselves using forces like surface tension and capillary action. Although not fully tested, these systems promise to launch thousands of microspacecraft in the next decade, revolutionizing space exploration.

Describe the process of how microfluidic electrospray propulsion works.

What are the implications of launching thousands of microspacecraft in the next decade?