WTF is an Ion Engine?

This special engine works differently than the rockets you’re used to
and it’s a big deal for the future of space travel. Here’s why - and if you love optimistic tech stories, subscribe for more!

It’s called an ion engine. NASA used one in their Deep Space 1 mission. Any kind of propulsion involves shooting stuff one way to get your ship to move the other. Rockets burn fuel and shoot down the gas created in a chemical reaction to send the rocket up. Burning fuel requires oxygen, which rockets have to carry.

Ion engines shoot out electrically charged gas, like Xenon or Krypton. And create electricity from the sun or a nuclear reactor to positively charge the gas. Then, using electric and magnetic fields, they accelerate the gas to 40 km/second or 90,000 mph. This is almost 10 times faster than chemical engines can shoot out gas, so they need much less fuel to push the ship forward and can operate for thousands of days. The problem is, the overall push is super small - it’s equivalent to the force it takes to hold a piece of paper in your hand.

So think of it as a slow build up that can get really fast over time, but can’t launch off the ground. For that, basically lighting a big candle works great :)

The future is probably a combo of different engines, each good at different things. One of you sent in a request to make a video on how these work, so we looked into it for you! Thank you!

#animation #engine #space #science #tech

[figo]

I don't know why people find this stuff so hard to understand, it's not rocket science…

*Wait-*

[baconbagels]

Ah yes. My many hours of Kerbal Space Program have prepared me for this moment

[rick]

I have one of these in my car. It takes 4 years to get to work each day.

[jesnie]

You just need a Twin Ion Engine, also known as TIE. Unfortunately they generate sound in space, and do sound like an over powered mosquito.

[GetsBeat]

That's why in star wars it's called a TIE Fighter. A Twin Ion Engine Fighter 😮

[Vlad_Draculea_III]

It's not enough to escape the escape velocity of earth, but in space it can work fine.

[spcs]

Of course I know what an ion engine is. It's what I put on my escape satalites to leave Kerbins sphere of influence

[mrt_]

Fun fact, in Star Wars the TIE Fighters use ion engines. It's in the name. TIE stands for Twin Ion Engine.

[winstonscates]

I built an ion engine in 1966. From plans in either Mechanics Illustrated or Popular Mechanics. When put into a glass case, suspended from the top and turned on and off MANY times I got it to swing.

[Sammich_boy]

I cannot tell you how nice it is to see content like this that doesnt have crummy AI voices talking over it. Love it, keep it up 💯

[thomasmount]

most noteworthy is that this uses electricity - which spacecraft can easily collect whilst on the move.

[milkyway]

Cleo, your mini videos are very knowledgeable and fun to watch.
Carry on your great work.

[asaemail]

So use the chemical engine to get to space, do a swap to ion engine to get to Mars? Where do I buy stellar tickets

[pleb]

Small pet peeve of mine, I hate that everyone says "oxygen" and not "oxidizer" when referring to rockets as there are so many other options and a lot of them are still used.

[tukangiseng]

Just like my car. 0-60 in two business days

[silvaticsword]

ONE STEP CLOSER TO TIE FIGHTERS!!!

(Tie fighter use twin ion engines)

[ethancoltrane]

"Deep space 1?" NASA, you have to make at least 8 more of these satellites.

[panda]

Ion engine, one step closer to my irl TIE fighter.

[DanTheManNiles]

This channel is fast becoming my replacement for every streaming service ever… well done taking complex topics and people and making them fascinating!

[paulsmith.]

I know you said xenon or krypton, but I remember hearing in 2007 that argon was the perfect gas to use, and it was very shortly after that that they decided to phase-out incandescent bulbs, which use argon.