The Colorado State University Electric Propulsion & Plasma Engineering (CEPPE) Laboratory has been providing research, development, and testing since 1965.

Research & development activities at the CEPPE laboratory include: Ion Thrusters / Hall Thrusters / Electric Propulsion Hollow Cathodes Emissive Membrane & Solid State Thrusters Hydroxyapatite Thin Films & Biomedical Applications Thermoelectric Materials Computational Modeling & Ion Optics Electrodynamic Tethers Sputtering & Erosion Problems Space-Based Applications of Plasma Technology

CSU's Hall Effect thruster research: CSU's 1.5 kW Hall effect thruster can be operated over a power range of 0.5 - 2.5 kW. It incorporates a center mounted heaterless electride hollow cathode for optimum performance and minimum plume divergence. At 1.5 kW, the thruster is capable of >2,000 seconds Isp and >60% efficiency.

The Electric Propulsion and Plasma Engineering Lab is part of the Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering.