Mars Academy

Ion Engine

The ion engine, which is sometimes called the electrostatic engine, is the electric system that obtains the highest degree of conversion of electric power into thrust, high exhaust velocity, and a longest operational lifetime. This engine works on the principle of the ionization of the propellant gas through the use of direct electron bombardment or radio frequency fields to increase the temperature of the gas and cause the desired thrust. The gas used for propellant in this type of engine is either the gas Ar or Xe, or the vaporized form of Hg or Cs. This stored gas enters the ionization chamber to increase its temperature up to the thrust temperature. The increase in temperature is done through the ionization of the gas. It passes through two acceleration grids which bombard it with positive ions from the power source. At this point the particles in the gas reach a velocity v. Before reaching the nozzle the accelerated mass of ionized gas is injected with electrons. Thrust is obtained, and the exhaust beam is electrically neutral behind the thruster nozzle.