Xenon, krypton, or argon are common choices for these thrusters, though other materials, like magnesium, zinc, and iodine have been experimented with in some designs. The vast majority of ion ...

The U.S. Space Force tested a new propulsion system designed for satellites that will keep tabs on spacecraft and other ...

In an ion propulsion system, electrons are fired into a magnetic field containing the noble gas xenon. When a xenon atom is hit, it loses one of its negatively charged electrons and turns into a ...

One of the most exciting new applications is in xenon-ion propulsion engines for space travel. Onboard NASA's Dawn spacecraft, launched in 2007 to study distant asteroids Vesta and Ceres ...

The AEPS is a solar electric propulsion system that uses xenon as its propellant, much like existing ion engines. Where it differs is in the power output, which should allow it to work as the ...

Predicting the lifetime of an electric ion thruster is notoriously difficult ... the specific type of carbon didn't matter. When the Xenon or Krypton ions impact the surface, the result is ...

NASA’s HALO module, key to Artemis missions, will revolutionize lunar exploration by supporting astronauts around the Moon ...