Electric propulsion is being increasingly used on space missions and could ultimately replace thrusters using chemical ...

Before solutions can be put in place to protect a spacecraft from these backscattered electrons, their behavior in an ion-engine plume must first be understood, which is where Cui and Joseph Wang ...

A research team presents an AI assessor for Hall-effect ion thrusters, the engines of satellites and space probes.

Supercomputer simulations advance electric propulsion by tackling ion plume challenges for safer space missions.

Let’s take a look at how ion thrusters work, and some of their interesting applications in the world of spacecraft! Chemical rocket engines provide huge thrust but are thirsty when it comes to fuel.

To understand why, you need to know two things: how ion drive works and how the engines differ when using them in an atmosphere. Let’s start with a space-based ion engine, a topic we’ve ...

Unlike most interplanetary probes, Dawn is not propelled by a chemical rocket engine, but by a solar-electric ion propulsion system, particularly suitable for long-distance flights. This innovative ...

A Hall thruster is a high-efficiency propulsion device using plasma that is used for various difficult space missions, such ...

Such a long runtime period is due to the long operating time of the propulsion system in space. An ion engine has to fire for a long time to fulfill a required mission because of its small thrust.

The contract with D-Orbit includes two launch opportunities and operations, in June and October, on D-Orbit’s Ion spacecraft, Pale Blue said Jan. 8. “By partnering... Based in the Seattle area ...