ESA test-fires electric ion thruster that could run satellites on thin air

While ion thrusters are a promising propulsion method for future spacecraft, their working life is limited by the amount of propellant they can carry. Now, scientists at ESA and Italian space company SITAEL have test-fired a new type of “air-breathing” electric thruster that could keep satellites aloft for longer and reduce drag at the same time, by making them literally run on thin air.

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Tau.Neutrino said:

ESA test-fires electric ion thruster that could run satellites on thin air

While ion thrusters are a promising propulsion method for future spacecraft, their working life is limited by the amount of propellant they can carry. Now, scientists at ESA and Italian space company SITAEL have test-fired a new type of “air-breathing” electric thruster that could keep satellites aloft for longer and reduce drag at the same time, by making them literally run on thin air.

more…

That makes a startling amount of good sense. These could fly lower than the lowest satellite and higher than the highest aircraft.

> This kind of air-breathing electric thruster could allow satellites to remain active for far longer, but that’s not the only advantage. GOCE carried 40 kg (88 lb) of xenon with it, so ditching that is a huge plus considering weight is such a valuable commodity on spacecraft. The older satellite also had a complex air drag reduction system built in, but the breathable new design doesn’t need one.

Yes. GOCE had to have a very low orbit in order to most accurately map the Earth’s gravitational field. It looked like this.

The point about using it in the atmosphere of other planets or moons is very pertinent.

The princple of propulsion can be as simple as this.