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An ion thruster is a form of electric propulsion for spacecraft, using ions accelerated by electricity to create thrust. Learn about the different categories, propellants, missions and origins of ion thrusters, from Tsiolkovsky to Dawn.
Ion drive: The first flight. Researchers from MIT have flown a plane without moving parts for the first time. It is powered by an ‘ion drive’ which uses high powered electrodes to ionise...
3 maj 2024 · Ion thrusters are the most common primary engine powering satellites through orbital maneuvers today. But to travel from low-Earth orbit (LEO) to farther orbits—or even the Moon—requires a...
21 lis 2018 · The aeroplane is powered by a battery connected to a type of engine called an ion drive that has no moving parts. There are no passengers, either. The whole device — which has a 5-metre wingspan...
3 lis 2015 · Learn how ion propulsion works, how it differs from chemical rockets, and what missions use it. Ion propulsion can achieve high speeds and low thrust, and is powered by electricity or nuclear decay.
6 paź 2016 · Paddy Neumann, a rocket scientist, has built a record-breaking ion drive that uses magnesium from space junk as fuel. He has partnered with Airbus Defence & Space to launch his device to the International Space Station for testing.
23 lis 2021 · DART will use the Evolutionary Xenon Thruster-Commercial (NEXT-C) to propel itself toward Dimorphos, a smaller asteroid of a binary pair. NEXT-C is a powerful ion drive that runs on solar panels and can reach high speeds, but will only operate for a short time before the impact.
