  A new method for determining the onset voltage of electrospray thrusters is
proposed, which specifically focuses on electrospray thrusters manufactured by
laser drilling through flat plates. The novelty of this method is that it
accounts for the effect of the thickness of the plate on the electrospray onset
voltage requirements, while traditional methods do not. Key results from this
study indicate that for certain materials a change in thickness results in a
notable change in the onset voltage, which implies that the plate thickness
needs to be considered when planning the design of the thruster emitters. This
methodology allows for a robust method of observing the influence of key
parameters on the onset voltage. These developments can potentially facilitate
and improve the design of these thrusters, enabling an accurate understanding
of the power requirements prior to manufacture.
