This image shows the exhaust produced by a 6 kW Hall thruster at the Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Unlike rockets that rely on chemical propulsion, the ion thrusters use electricity to create an electromagnetic field to produce thrust. As the ionised particles leave the aircraft, they generate a force in the reverse direction. Photo: Nasa This image shows the exhaust produced by a 6 kW Hall thruster at the Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Unlike rockets that rely on chemical propulsion, the ion thrusters use electricity to create an electromagnetic field to produce thrust. As the ionised particles leave the aircraft, they generate a force in the reverse direction. Photo: Nasa
This image shows the exhaust produced by a 6 kW Hall thruster at the Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Unlike rockets that rely on chemical propulsion, the ion thrusters use electricity to create an electromagnetic field to produce thrust. As the ionised particles leave the aircraft, they generate a force in the reverse direction. Photo: Nasa
China science
Tech /  Science & Research

Electric vehicles in deep space: China hails its new ion thruster for rockets as the world’s best

State media says new-generation propulsion device will improve the mobility and lifespan of China’s space assets, adds that Hall-effect thruster has already been delivered to Chinese customers in the industry

Topic |   China science
Stephen Chen
Stephen Chen

Updated: 2:54pm, 20 Jul, 2018

Why you can trust SCMP
This image shows the exhaust produced by a 6 kW Hall thruster at the Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Unlike rockets that rely on chemical propulsion, the ion thrusters use electricity to create an electromagnetic field to produce thrust. As the ionised particles leave the aircraft, they generate a force in the reverse direction. Photo: Nasa This image shows the exhaust produced by a 6 kW Hall thruster at the Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Unlike rockets that rely on chemical propulsion, the ion thrusters use electricity to create an electromagnetic field to produce thrust. As the ionised particles leave the aircraft, they generate a force in the reverse direction. Photo: Nasa
This image shows the exhaust produced by a 6 kW Hall thruster at the Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Unlike rockets that rely on chemical propulsion, the ion thrusters use electricity to create an electromagnetic field to produce thrust. As the ionised particles leave the aircraft, they generate a force in the reverse direction. Photo: Nasa
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