You can see the video explaining that, below. 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 ...

The AEPS is a solar electric propulsion system that uses xenon as its propellant, much like existing ion engines. Where it differs is in the power output, which should allow it to work as the ...

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 ...

While hype continues to build around the development of solid-state batteries, the good-old lithium-ion (Li-ion) formula, ...

Predicting the lifetime of an electric ion thruster is notoriously difficult. You have to account for the chamber wall effects, which are not present in space environments. Researchers within several ...