However, when applied over a great deal of time in the vacuum of space, it can lead to a huge change in velocity, or delta V. This manner of operation means that an ion thruster and a small mass ...

While these massive devices are marvels of human engineering, the real workhorses of the space industry are the immensely less-gargantuan ion thrusters. These engines are as old as rocketry itself ...

Ion engines propel a spacecraft one atom at a time ... particles so they continue shooting out of the engine and create thrust (instead of being attracted back toward the magnetic field).

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 ...

Hollow cathodes are used as part of both Hall effect and gridded ion thrusters, which are some of the most common forms of electric propulsion in use today. The operation of hollow cathodes, despite ...

Illustration of an NEP spacecraft (Image: ESA) The RocketRoll project - or 'Preliminary European ... system where the electricity produced by a nuclear power reactor powers electric ion thrusters - ...

A Hall-effect thruster is a type of ion thruster that accelerates propellant ... duration missions and was designed to enable ...

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 ...