Unlike most interplanetary probes, Dawn is not propelled by a chemical rocket engine, but by a solar-electric ion propulsion system, particularly suitable for long-distance flights. This innovative ...

Things have changed in the past decade, with researchers testing different methods of propulsion. Take Orbion Space Technology, for example. They supply NASA with ion thrusters, and they are a ...

Electric propulsion is being increasingly used on space missions and could ultimately replace thrusters using chemical ...

Other deep space missions have also relied on the technology. JAXA’s Hayabusa probe relied on an ion thruster to help it rendezvous with the Itokawa asteroid. NASA’s Dawn mission also used the ...

An curved arrow pointing right. NASA is working on the next generation of space propulsion, and it's looking very wimpy — but incredibly efficient. The space agency is developing a brand-new ion ...

Without a solution, the spacecraft risked drifting away permanently. To maintain contact with Earth, NASA engineers had to switch to a backup thruster system, carefully balancing the spacecraft ...

NASA and Boeing face mounting concerns as the return trip of astronaut Sunita Williams aboard the Starliner spacecraft approaches. The critical issue lies with the thrusters, which are essential ...

The Institute for Ultra-Strong Composites by Computational Design (US-COMP) is a NASA Space Technology Research Institute awarded in 2017. Its mission is computational development of materials for ...

"I have a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will ... Wilmore said despite the thruster issues, the Starliner has been "truly impressive." Boeing and NASA said the astronauts ...