News tagged with ion propulsion

results timeline

New concept may enhance Earth-Mars communication

Oct 16, 2009 | 4.1 / 5 (12) | 18

Direct communication between Earth and Mars can be strongly disturbed and even blocked by the Sun for weeks at a time, cutting off any future human mission to the Red Planet. An ESA engineer working with engineers ...

GOCE satellite achieves drag-free perfection (w/Videos)

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

May 26, 2009 | 4.8 / 5 (19) | 11

(PhysOrg.com) -- ESA's gravity mission GOCE has achieved a first in the history of satellite technology. The sophisticated electric propulsion system has shown that it is able to keep the satellite completely ...

GOCE's 'heart' starts beating

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Apr 08, 2009 | 5 / 5 (3) | 0

GOCE's highly sensitive gradiometer instrument has been switched on and is producing data. Forming the heart of GOCE, the gradiometer is specifically designed to measure Earth's gravity field with unprecedented ...

GOCE's electric ion propulsion engine switched on

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Apr 06, 2009 | 4.9 / 5 (8) | 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- GOCE's sophisticated electric ion propulsion system has been switched on and confirmed to be operating normally, marking another crucial milestone in the satellite's post-launch commissioning ...

Dawn Glides Into New Year

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Nov 21, 2008 | 4.3 / 5 (3) | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft shut down its ion propulsion system today as scheduled. The spacecraft is now gliding toward a Mars flyby in February of next year.