A distributed thruster based gas compressor, the compressor including an enclosed housing having an inlet aperture exposed to a source of ambient gas; at least one pressure producing device formed over the inlet aperture and adapted to produce a pressure, the pressure producing device being formed of distributed thrusters, such as Nano Molecular Solid-state Electrodynamics Thrusters (NMSETs); a control unit coupled to the first pressure producing device; and wherein the control unit controls the pressure producing device to produce the pressure to cause the ambient gas to be compressed in the housing.