ion propulsion

Ion Engines Could Work on Earth too, to Make Silent, Solid-State Aircraft

Ion engines are the best technology for sending spacecraft on long missions. They're not suitable for launching spacecraft against powerful…

2 years ago

Lunar Gateway Will Maintain its Orbit With a 6 kW ion Engine

The ionic propulsion system that will allow the Lunar Gateway to orbit the Moon just got its first test, and…

3 years ago

The First Cubesat With a Hall-Effect Thruster has Gone to Space

Student-led teams aren’t the only ones testing out novel electric propulsion techniques recently.  Back in November, a company called Exotrail…

3 years ago

NASA Selects Aerojet Rocketdyne to Develop Solar Electric Propulsion for Deep Space Missions

NASA has selected Aerojet Rocketdyne to design and develop an advanced solar electric propulsion (SEP) system that will serve as…

8 years ago

What Are The Uses Of Electromagnets?

Electromagnets, which rely on electrical current to generate magnetic fields, are used to powering everything from medical equipment to consumer…

8 years ago

Ion Propulsion: The Key to Deep Space Exploration

When we think of space travel, we tend to picture a massive rocket blasting off from Earth, with huge blast…

8 years ago

Dawn Starts Steep Descent to Most Dazzling Orbit of Ceres

The most dazzling views ever seen of dwarf planet Ceres and its mysterious bright spots are what’s on tap by…

8 years ago

2015: NASA’s Year of the Dwarf Planet

Together, the space probes Dawn and New Horizons have been in flight for a collective 17 years. One remained close…

9 years ago

Dawn gets Big Science Boost at Best Vesta Mapping Altitude

[/caption] NASA’s Dawn mission is getting a whopping boost in science observing time at the closest orbit around Asteroid Vesta…

12 years ago