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.

Audio Podcast version:
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/u...
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

Video Podcast version:
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/bh/podcast/u...
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/video

What Fraser's Watching Playlist:

• What Fraser's watching

Weekly email newsletter:
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter

Support us at: http://www.patreon.com/universetoday
More stories at: http://www.universetoday.com/
Follow us on Twitter: @universetoday
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetoday
Google+ - https://plus.google.com/+universetoday/
Instagram - http://instagram.com/universetoday

Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / [email protected]
Karla Thompson - @karlaii /

/ @karlathompson001
Chad Weber - [email protected]
Chloe Cain - Instagram: @chloegwen2001

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...