Definitions for ion engine
ion en·gine

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ion enginenoun

   a type of reaction-propulsion engine to propel rockets in space; a stream of positive ions is accelerated to a high velocity by an electric field

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ion enginenoun

   a type of spacecraft propulsion, whereby electric fields accelerate ions out the exhaust to provide motive force

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ion engine

   An ion thruster, ion drive, or ion engine is a form of electric propulsion used for spacecraft propulsion. It creates thrust by accelerating ions using electricity. An ion thruster ionizes a neutral gas by extracting some electrons out of atoms, creating a cloud of positive ions. Ion thrusters are categorized as either electrostatic or electromagnetic. Electrostatic thruster ions are accelerated by the Coulomb force along the electric field direction. Temporarily stored electrons are reinjected by a neutralizer in the cloud of ions after it has passed through the electrostatic grid, so the gas becomes neutral again and can freely disperse in space without any further electrical interaction with the thruster. By contrast, electromagnetic thruster ions are accelerated by the Lorentz force to accelerate all species (free electrons as well as positive and negative ions) in the same direction whatever their electric charge, and are specifically referred to as plasma propulsion engines, where the electric field is not in the direction of the acceleration.Ion thrusters in operation typically consume 1–7 kW of power, have exhaust velocities around 20–50 km/s (Isp 2000–5000 s), and possess thrusts of 25–250 mN and a propulsive efficiency 65–80% though experimental versions have achieved 100 kW (130 hp), 5 N (1.1 lbf).The Deep Space 1 spacecraft, powered by an ion thruster, changed velocity by 4.3 km/s (2.7 mi/s) while consuming less than 74 kg (163 lb) of xenon. The Dawn spacecraft broke the record, with a velocity change of 11.5 km/s (7.1 mi/s), though it was only half as efficient, requiring 425 kg (937 lb) of xenon.Applications include control of the orientation and position of orbiting satellites (some satellites have dozens of low-power ion thrusters) and use as a main propulsion engine for low-mass robotic space vehicles (such as Deep Space 1 and Dawn).Ion thrust engines are generally practical only in the vacuum of space as the engine's minuscule thrust cannot overcome any significant air resistance without radical design changes, as may be found in the 'Atmosphere Breathing Electric Propulsion' concept. MIT has created designs that are able to fly for short distances and at low speeds at ground level, using ultra-light materials and low drag aerofoils. An ion engine cannot usually generate sufficient thrust to achieve initial liftoff from any celestial body with significant surface gravity. For these reasons, spacecraft must rely on other methods such as conventional chemical rockets or non-rocket launch technologies to reach their initial orbit.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ion engine

   An ion engine, also known as ion thruster, is a type of propulsion system that generates thrust by emitting charged particles (ions) in the opposite direction of the desired movement. It uses electric power to extract and accelerate ions from a propellant, typically a neutral gas. This engine is particularly useful in space exploration due to its high fuel efficiency and ability to provide small, continuous thrust for a long period, making it suitable for long-distance travel.

Matched Categories

1. • Reaction-propulsion Engine

How to pronounce ion engine?

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Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of ion engine in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of ion engine in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=ion engine
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ion_Engine
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_Engine
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com