This Is NASA's New Solar-Electric Propulsion Engine

NASA has posted an image of its new solar-electric propulsion thruster, which uses xenon ions for propulsion

The engine in the photo, blue with the glow of xenon gas, is being considered to become a part of NASA's Asteroid Retrieval Initiative, a proposed program to robotically capture a small near-Earth asteroid and redirect it to a stable orbit around Earth. Such an asteroid could then be visited and explored by astronauts

Often mentioned in science fiction novels, ion propulsion is one of the most efficient known ways to travel through space. "The ion propulsion system's efficient use of fuel and electrical power enable modern spacecraft to travel farther, faster, and cheaper than any other propulsion technology currently available," claims NASA Read more...

More about Nasa, Tech, Gadgets, Ion Propulsion, and Solar Electric Propulsion
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