How Do Ion Engines Work? The Most Efficient Propulsion System Out There
People always ask me why we’re stuck with chemical rockets. Seriously, exploding a bunch of hydrogen or kerosene is the best we can do?
Good news, there are other, exotic science fiction-sounding propulsion systems out there which use electromagnetic fields to accelerate atoms, allowing their spacecraft to accelerate for months at a time.
I’m talking about ion engines, of course, and several spacecraft have already used these exotic thrusters to perform some of the most amazing missions in the exploration of the Solar System.
Audio Podcast version:
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/u...
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio
Video Podcast version:
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/bh/podcast/u...
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/video
What Fraser's Watching Playlist:
• What Fraser's watching
Weekly email newsletter:
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter
Support us at: / universetoday
More stories at: http://www.universetoday.com/
Follow us on Twitter: @universetoday
Like us on Facebook: / universetoday
Google+ - https://plus.google.com/+universetoday/
Instagram - / universetoday
Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / [email protected]
Karla Thompson - @karlaii / / @karlathompson001
Chad Weber - [email protected]
Chloe Cain - Instagram: @chloegwen2001
References:
http://www.spacex.com/falcon9
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/te...
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.ph...
https://www.space.com/38444-mars-thru...
http://m.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space...
