One of the most exciting new applications is in xenon-ion propulsion engines for space travel. Onboard NASA's Dawn spacecraft, launched in 2007 to study distant asteroids Vesta and Ceres ...

The magnetic field then accelerates the xenon ions out of the propulsion jet. The resulting thrust is no greater than the pressure of a piece of paper on the outstretched palm of the hand – tiny in ...

Sort of. Spacecraft carry around their own ion fuel in the form of xenon (although some older engines used mercury). Xenon is good because it is relatively heavy which provides more thrust and is ...

Ion engines propel a spacecraft one atom at a time. The devices rip electrons off xenon gas to create a stream of charged particles. Next the ions pass through a magnetic field, which speeds up ...