Universe Today - Plasma Thruster Prototype

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DATE : Thu, 22 Dec 2005 13:00:00 -0800
Entered in Database : 2005-12-22 21:00:00
length : 5561045
Link to the Show / Show Notes

If you're going to fly in space, you need some kind of propulsion system. Chemical rockets can accelerate quickly, but they need a lot of heavy fuel. Ion engines are extremely fuel efficient but don't generate a lot of power, so they accelerate over months and even years. A new thrusting technology called the Helicon Double Layer Thruster could be even more efficient with its fuel. Dr. Christine Charles from the Australian National University in Canberra is the inventor.

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