BepiColombo's first routine firing in space
On Monday this week, BepiColombo began its very first routine electric propulsion firing.
Space Exploration
Dec 19, 2018
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News tagged with thrusters
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BepiColombo now firing on all cylinders
BepiColombo, the joint ESA/JAXA spacecraft on a mission to Mercury, is now firing its thrusters for the first time in flight.
Space Exploration
Dec 05, 2018
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10
Electric blue thrusters propelling BepiColombo to Mercury
In mid-December, twin discs will begin glowing blue on the underside of a minibus-sized spacecraft in deep space. At that moment Europe and Japan's BepiColombo mission will have just come a crucial step closer to Mercury.
Space Exploration
Nov 16, 2018
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277
Plasma thruster: New space debris removal technology
The Earth is currently surrounded by debris launched into space over several decades. This space junk can collide with satellites, causing damage and creating more debris. To preserve a secure space environment, the active ...
Plasma Physics
Sep 28, 2018
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230
Image: CubeSat micro-pulsed plasma thruster
This micro-pulsed plasma thruster has been designed for propulsion of miniature CubeSats; its first firing is seen here. The thruster works by pulsing a lightning-like electric arc between two electrodes. This vaporizes ...
Space Exploration
Jun 13, 2018
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Scientists improve ability to measure electrical properties of plasma
Any solid surface immersed within a plasma, including those in satellite engines and fusion reactors, is surrounded by a layer of electrical charge that determines the interaction between the surface and the plasma. Understanding ...
Plasma Physics
May 29, 2018
35
321
Team tests feasibility of EmDrive and Mach Effect Thrusters
A team of German physicists with TU Dresden has independently tested the feasibility of the EmDrive and Mach Effect Thrusters. They have presented their findings at this year's Aeronautics and Astronautics Association of ...
NASA launches USU student-built experiment into space
After long delays caused by storms and rough seas, NASA on Sunday launched a rocket into space carrying an experiment built by students at Utah State University.
Space Exploration
Mar 27, 2018
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19
World-first firing of air-breathing electric thruster
In a world first, an ESA-led team has built and fired an electric thruster to ingest scarce air molecules from the top of the atmosphere for propellant, opening the way to satellites flying in very low orbits for years on ...
Space Exploration
Mar 06, 2018
36
812
Will the X3 ion thruster propel us to Mars?
X3 is a powerful ion thruster that could one day propel humans beyond Earth. The thruster was successfully tested few months ago, and could be selected by NASA as a crucial component of propulsion system for future Mars missions.
Space Exploration
Feb 19, 2018
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