William Atkins
Monday, 03 August 2009 18:41
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 2
The U.S.-based company Aerojet and the Japan-based company NEC Corporation are joining forces to provide low power ion propulsion systems for the U.S. and Japanese aerospace markets.
Ion propulsion is a good way to power various types of space-based propulsion systems, such as geosynchronous satellite propulsion systems and deep space propulsion systems, due to its higher fuel efficiency than found on regularly used chemical propulsion systems.
Although ion propulsion systems have a thrust that is very small when compared to conventional chemical systems, its propellant efficiency (or, specific impulse) is very high.
A low thrust slowly builds up over a long period (over weeks to even years) to achieve a high change of velocity (delta-v).
A ion power system (or, ion thruster system) uses the continuous acceleration of ions in the direction of an electric field to create thrust for space vehicles.
Ion propulsions systems generally use either electromagnetic force (via the Lorentz force) or electrostatic force (through the Coulomb force) as its means of generating the thrust.
NEC and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (
JAXA), Japan’s counterpart to the U.S. space agency NASA, have developed jointly a low power propulsion system that is called “Microwave Ion Engine.” It uses microwaves for its generation of ions.
This is the ion propulsion system that will be the key instrument to the joint effort between the U.S. Aerojet and the Japan NEC.
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