Ion Propulsion

Aakash Kadakia


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Ion propulsion is a technology first used by NASA in the New horizon spacecraft. The spacecraft was used to travel to pluto and explore the unknown. Ion propulsion is now being used in many other missions to decrease propellant usage and cost.


NASA first started using Ion thrusters in 1964 where they tested the first electric Rocket marking the first deep space exploration. The Cassini spacecraft also used Ion propulsion before it crashed into saturn weeks ago. It was able to last 20 years which makes Ion propulsion much more effecient and cost effective. propulsion much more effecient and cost effective. Ion propulsion works by creating a thrust which is built off the accelerations of the ions inside the thruster. The creation of the Ions are due to the constant add or removal of electrons. The thrusters need an average of 1 to 7 kilowats in order to produce the normal velocity.

The future of Ion Propulsion is already growing with Nasa. Electric purpulsion allows for a reduced launch cost as well as the entext of NASA's satellites. NASA is already in delvelolpment on two different Ion thrusters, one with a Xenon thruster and the other with an Annular engine.