ion engine

British  

noun

1. a type of rocket engine in which thrust is obtained by the electrostatic acceleration of charged positive ions Compare plasma engine

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ion engine Scientific  

1. A rocket engine that develops thrust by expelling ions fired by an electron gun, used in some spacecraft. Though ion engines create less thrust than chemical combustion engines, they are considerably more efficient and require very little propellant, resulting in much lighter weight and less need for high thrust.

2. See also solar-electric propulsion

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Example Sentences

Firing an ion engine, the tractor would in theory be able to pull the asteroid away from a collision course with Earth.

From Scientific American

The inclusion of a powerful ion engine will require a lot power, hence the use of immense solar arrays.

From BBC

The Vasimr is designed to produce much more thrust than a standard ion engine.

From BBC

An earlier version of this article gave the wrong measurement for the thrust generated by a spacecraft's ion engine.

From New York Times

Launched in 2007 with an ion engine, Dawn is nearing the end of its extended mission.

From Seattle Times