ion engine

American  

[ahy-ahn en-juhn] / ˈaɪ ɑn ˈɛn dʒən /

noun

1. Physics, Chemistry. Also called ion thruster. a rocket engine whose thrust is produced by ion propulsion.

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ion engine British  

noun

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

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ion engine Scientific  

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

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Example Sentences

Alternatively, the thrust from an ion engine could also nudge a small asteroid away from Earth.

From Scientific American • Sep. 21, 2022

Firing an ion engine, the tractor would in theory be able to pull the asteroid away from a collision course with Earth.

From Scientific American • Sep. 21, 2022

The Vasimr is designed to produce much more thrust than a standard ion engine.

From BBC • Dec. 24, 2019

But scientists intent on remotely reviving the failed engines succeeded only in getting an undamaged half of one ion engine to work with the undamaged portion of a second engine.

From New York Times • Jul. 1, 2010

"Technically," she corrected, "the booster only took me into orbit. It was the nuclear-powered ion engine that took me to Mars."

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir