Electric Engines


Electric engines are propulsion systems that use electrical energy to generate thrust. In space and astronautical engineering, electric engines are used to propel spacecraft and satellites. Unlike chemical engines, electric engines do not rely on combustion to generate thrust. Instead, they use electric fields or magnetic fields to accelerate charged particles, such as ions or electrons, and expel them out of the engine at high speeds. This produces a small but continuous thrust that can be sustained for long periods of time, making electric engines ideal for deep space missions that require low acceleration but high efficiency. There are several types of electric engines, including ion thrusters, Hall effect thrusters, and plasma thrusters, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.


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