SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -An ion thruster, ion drive, or ion engine is a form of electric propulsion used for spacecraft propulsion. It creates thrust by accelerating ions using electricity.

Detailed explanation-2: -Common examples are lightning and the substance inside fluorescent light bulbs. The most common propellant used in ion propulsion is xenon, which is easily ionized and has a high atomic mass, thus generating a desirable level of thrust when ions are accelerated.

Detailed explanation-3: -Ion propulsion was proved on NASA’s Deep Space 1 mission, which tested it and11 other technologies while journeying to an asteroid and a comet.

Detailed explanation-4: -Ion thrusters (based on a NASA design) are now being used to keep over 100 geosynchronous Earth orbit communication satellites in their desired locations, and three NSTAR ion thrusters that utilize Glenn-developed technology are enabling the Dawn spacecraft (launched in 2007) to travel deep into our solar system.