Component
Ion Thruster
A gridded electrostatic thruster that ionises a propellant (usually xenon) and accelerates it with electric-field grids to very high exhaust velocity. It delivers tiny thrust but sips fuel, enabling missions like Deep Space 1 and Dawn.
Highlights
- ›Gentle but ultra-efficient; enabled Deep Space 1 and Dawn
Knowledge connections
- Part ofPropulsion
- Associated withElectric Propulsion
- Associated withSpecific Impulse
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.
- NASA JPLJet Propulsion Laboratory / Solar System Dynamics
Orbital data, ephemerides, and small-body parameters for planets, asteroids, and comets.