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In this study, the material loss relationship between the electrodes of a micro-cathodic arc thruster was investigated by adjusting the input voltage. The crater morphology of the micro-cathodic arc thruster was observed with a scanning electron microscope. The internal crater material was analyzed with an energy spectrum analyzer. On this basis, the arc path is obtained and the material loss of the structure between the electrodes of the micro-cathodic arc thruster was studied through further numerical simulation. The experimental and simulation results show that with a change in the Power processing unit (PPU) input voltage of the micro-cathodic arc thruster, the material distribution in the cathode crater and the discharge channel between the electrodes changed, affecting the bombardment of ions between the electrodes of the thruster on the insulating structure and conductive coating. In engineering applications, regulation of the arc breakdown path can effectively reduce the total energy of ion bombardment on the wall. • Study on micro-morphology and composition distribution characteristics of arc crater of micro-cathode arc thruster. • Study on the distribution characteristics of PPU input voltage and discharge channel between thrusters. • The ion bombardment on the wall under different discharge channels is simulated. • With the increase of PPU input voltage, the dominant factor of inter-electrode structure loss changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]