SpaceX launches electric {ion propulsion} satellites (BBC)
Last edited Tue Mar 3, 2015, 11:08 AM - Edit history (1)
By Jonathan Amos
BBC Science Correspondent
US rocket company SpaceX has performed its first dual-satellite mission.
The firm's Falcon 9 vehicle put up two telecommunications spacecraft on Monday (GMT) - one for Eutelsat and one for the Asia Broadcast Satellite operator.
Both spacecraft will use electric engines to get into their final orbital positions 36,000km above the equator.
The use of this type of propulsion - which accelerates xenon ions to provide thrust - is seen as a big trend in spacecraft design and deployment.
The efficiency of electric thrusters does away with the bulky fuel tanks required by traditional chemical engines.
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more: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-31694199
