That’s why NASA developed the H71M sub-kilowatt Hall-effect thruster, a next-generation ion engine that can supply a velocity ...

Ion engines won’t get you out of Earth ... NASA was more than willing to point out the low thrust available from the propulsion system, noting that 0-60 mph would take four days, which compares ...

The AEPS is a solar electric propulsion system that uses xenon as its propellant, much like existing ion engines ... once the individual AEPS thrusters are validated, three strings will be ...

An curved arrow pointing right. NASA is working on the next generation of space propulsion, and it's looking very wimpy — but incredibly efficient. The space agency is developing a brand-new ion ...

The secret lies in the endurance of the ion technology. While chemical propulsion systems operate for only a few minutes, generating their thrust in this short period, electrical engines can run for ...

A UK startup has unveiled a new fusion-powered space rocket concept called Sunbird for interplanetary travel to Mars — and beyond.

Predicting the lifetime of an electric ion thruster is notoriously ... predict the lifespan of electric thrusters. "We can simulate the damage to the engine caused by sputtering, but until now ...

But in traditional ion engines, sometimes called Hall thrusters, the constant bombardment of energized particles against the back wall of the engine gradually wears it down until the device shorts ...

Orbital mobility took center-stage in the space industry last year, with venture capitalists funneling massive sums into ...

The scientists expect the engine to have a thrust of around 6 ... for using electric nuclear propulsion (NEP), using a nuclear power reactor to power electric ion thrusters - ionising a gas ...

Being a long-term test the thruster has to be operated 24h over seven days, in order to accumulate several thousand hours of operation. Such a long runtime period is due to the long operating time of ...

These vehicles rely on propulsion systems that generate immense thrust to overcome Earth's ... Advanced propulsion technologies, such as ion engines and nuclear thermal rockets, are also being ...