The invention discloses a cold cathode structure capable of allowing space electric propulsion to be started quickly. The cold cathode structure comprises a cathode tube, an emitter, a heat shield, a cathode top, an igniter electrode, an insulator, a housing and a flange. One end of the cathode tube is arranged to the flange, and the other end thereof is provided with the emitter, and is fixed by the cathode top; the cathode top is provided with a center hole; the emitter is in a hollow pipe shape, is arranged in the cathode tube and is closely contacted with the cathode top; the heat shield is arranged outside the cathode tube and is close to the cathode top, and covers the cathode tube portion equipped with the emitter; the igniter electrode is connected with the housing through the insulator; one end of the housing is connected with the insulator, and the other end thereof is connected with the flange; and the flange is provided with an installation hole. The cold cathode structure can start a cathode and an electric thruster to discharge quickly without pre-heating of a heater, and starting time of a spacecraft electric propulsion system is reduced from hundreds of seconds to one second and below, thereby greatly improving response performance of the electric propulsion system; and the cold cathode structure can be used in the field of space propulsion needing to be started quickly.