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.

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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...