Post by glactus on Dec 3, 2011 0:38:32 GMT
An electrically powered spacecraft propulsion system is any of a number of forms of electric motors which spacecraft can employ to gain mechanical energy in outer space. Most of these kinds of spacecraft propulsion work by electrically powering propellant to high speed.
A Solar Electric spacecraft
Electric thrusters typically offer much higher specific impulse; however, due to practical power source constraints thrust is weaker compared to chemical thrusters by several orders of magnitude, but solar electric thrusters have the advantage of sustainability within the Solar System. Russian satellites have used electric propulsion for decades, and newer Western geo-orbiting spacecraft are starting to use them for north-south stationkeeping.
Moving payloads reliably and cost effectively from low Earth orbit to high-energy orbits is critical for deep space human and robotic exploration.
Bepicolombo Solar electric spacecraft
Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. is one of five companies that will develop mission concepts for demonstrating solar electric propulsion in space, important for NASA's future deep space human exploration missions.
An artist's conception of solar electric power
The five companies were each awarded study contracts up to $600.000. Ball will work with NASA to define a mission concept that will demonstrate the solar electric propulsion technologies, capabilities, and infrastructure required for sustainable, affordable human presence in space.
Credits: These are non copywrite images
Text by wikipedia.Glactus.Space Daily.com
Special credit: Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp
A Solar Electric spacecraft
Electric thrusters typically offer much higher specific impulse; however, due to practical power source constraints thrust is weaker compared to chemical thrusters by several orders of magnitude, but solar electric thrusters have the advantage of sustainability within the Solar System. Russian satellites have used electric propulsion for decades, and newer Western geo-orbiting spacecraft are starting to use them for north-south stationkeeping.
Moving payloads reliably and cost effectively from low Earth orbit to high-energy orbits is critical for deep space human and robotic exploration.
Bepicolombo Solar electric spacecraft
Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. is one of five companies that will develop mission concepts for demonstrating solar electric propulsion in space, important for NASA's future deep space human exploration missions.
An artist's conception of solar electric power
The five companies were each awarded study contracts up to $600.000. Ball will work with NASA to define a mission concept that will demonstrate the solar electric propulsion technologies, capabilities, and infrastructure required for sustainable, affordable human presence in space.
Credits: These are non copywrite images
Text by wikipedia.Glactus.Space Daily.com
Special credit: Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp