ion engine

noun

1. a type of rocket engine in which thrust is obtained by the electrostatic acceleration of charged positive ions Compare plasma engine

ion engine

1. A rocket engine that develops thrust by expelling ions fired by an electron gun, used in some spacecraft. Though ion engines create less thrust than chemical combustion engines, they are considerably more efficient and require very little propellant, resulting in much lighter weight and less need for high thrust.
2. See also solar-electric propulsion

Example Sentences

This thing called an ion engine, which creates a force field to move satellites, seems like a lot of equipment.

From Project Gutenberg