Ion engine: Russia ahead

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The European Space Agency has announced the successful testing of a direct-flow ion engine using air fuel, which will allow the engine to use the surrounding atmosphere for movement. Engines of this type are planned to be used on satellites, which, being equipped with a new development of ESA, can be located at an altitude of up to 200 kilometers for almost unlimited time.

The action of the ion engine is based on the acceleration of the ionized gas particles by the electrostatic field. Thus, particles can be accelerated to higher speeds than in the usual chemical engines. However, the weak side of ion engines is their relatively low thrust, although at the same time they have significantly higher specific impulse and low fuel consumption. In this regard, ion engines are not very popular.



However, this may change soon. The European Space Agency has announced the successful testing of a direct-flow ion engine using air fuel, which will allow the engine to use the surrounding atmosphere for movement. Engines of this type are planned to be used on satellites, which, being equipped with a new development of ESA, can be located at an altitude of up to 200 kilometers for almost unlimited time.

The prototype engine was tested in a vacuum chamber. First, xenon came into the chamber as fuel, then it simulated an atmosphere of a nitrogen-oxygen mixture at 200 kilometers, and, finally, a clean air mixture was introduced into the chamber.

So far, the use of an ion engine has included the use of a slowly diverging fuel supply. Created by Technology ESA's GOCE satellite, launched in 2009, was able to stay at 255 km altitude for almost 5 years. The use of direct-flow technology, presumably, will make the duration of the stay of satellites with an ion engine in orbit unlimited.

An ion engine is also being developed in our country. In early February of this year, flight tests were even conducted. However, Russian development requires a supply of fuel, which will eventually be used up.
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  1. Mountain shooter
    Mountain shooter
    +2
    9 March 2018 18: 50
    Russia is a recognized leader in the manufacture and use of ion engines ... SPD engine (can be viewed on the web). Everything that these "inventors" came up with was a block that collects and compresses gas to the required density for SPT operation ... At an altitude of 200 km, the pressure is 0.0001 Pa. And for the SPD to work, at least 0.1 - 0.2 Pa is needed. We collect gas at a speed of 8 km / s, ionize it and accelerate it. There is nothing "revolutionary" in this ...
    1. shinobi
      shinobi
      +1
      10 March 2018 01: 39
      Russia traditionally develops and uses plasma engines. Photo in the picture. Ionic develops west. Which type is best shown by time.
  2. shinobi
    shinobi
    0
    10 March 2018 01: 34
    The article is complete nonsense. The author does not have information on the topic at all.
  3. Vasilenko Vladimir
    Vasilenko Vladimir
    0
    10 March 2018 12: 46
    almost unlimited time.

    sorry, but it doesn’t
  4. zenion
    zenion
    0
    10 March 2018 15: 08
    What will they use in space?
  5. Boris55
    Boris55
    0
    12 March 2018 08: 43
    on air fuel that will allow use the surrounding atmosphere to drive the engine. This type of engine is planned to be used on satellites that are equipped with a new ESA development can be located at an altitude of up to 200 kilometers for almost unlimited time.

    But is it possible in more detail, what atmosphere is there at an altitude of 200 km, thanks to which it works? laughing
  6. Hedgehog
    Hedgehog
    0
    19 March 2018 09: 03
    But is it not British scientists who jumped out there with an engine? laughing and it’s too painful an article on their style “scientists found out in British ...”