14 Facts About Spacecraft propulsion

Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites.

Several methods of pragmatic spacecraft propulsion have been developed each having its own drawbacks and advantages.

Hypothetical in-space Spacecraft propulsion technologies describe the Spacecraft propulsion technologies that could meet future space science and exploration needs.

In-space Spacecraft propulsion begins where the upper stage of the launch vehicle leaves off; performing the functions of primary Spacecraft propulsion, reaction control, station keeping, precision pointing, and orbital maneuvering.

When in space, the purpose of a propulsion system is to change the velocity, or v, of a spacecraft.

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Ion Spacecraft propulsion engines have high specific impulse and low thrust whereas chemical rockets like monopropellant or bipropellant rocket engines have a low specific impulse but high thrust.

In-space Spacecraft propulsion represents technologies that can significantly improve a number of critical aspects of the mission.

The requirements for in-space Spacecraft propulsion vary widely due according to their intended application.

Electric Spacecraft propulsion is commonly used for station keeping on commercial communications satellites and for prime Spacecraft propulsion on some scientific space missions because of their high specific impulse.

One system combines solar sails, a form of propellantless Spacecraft propulsion which relies on naturally-occurring starlight for Spacecraft propulsion energy, and Hall thrusters.

Variety of hypothetical Spacecraft propulsion techniques have been considered that require a deeper understanding of the properties of space, particularly inertial frames and the vacuum state.

For rocket-like Spacecraft propulsion systems this is a function of mass fraction and exhaust velocity.

Spacecraft propulsion systems are often first statically tested on Earth's surface, within the atmosphere but many systems require a vacuum chamber to test fully.

Air-breathing electric Spacecraft propulsion could make a new class of long-lived, low-orbiting missions feasible on Earth, Mars or Venus.