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.

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 ...

So the ion engine is just using electricity to create thrust exhaust instead of burning rocket fuel. The downside is that the thrust is very tiny. The upside is that, in space, that tiny thrust ...

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

NASA is developing a groundbreaking spacecraft concept designed to revolutionize Mars travel. The ambitious plan involves ...

Pale Blue plans to demonstrate its 1U water ion thruster twice in 2025 on D-Orbit’s Ion Satellite Carrier, an orbital transfer vehicle. The contract with D-Orbit includes two launch ...