// PROPULSION SYSTEMS AND ENGINE TECHNOLOGY TERM
Gridded Ion Engine
A Gridded Ion Engine is a type of electric spacecraft propulsion that uses an electric field to accelerate ionized gas (propellant) through a set of charged grids, producing very small but continuous thrust. This process allows spacecraft to achieve high speeds with minimal fuel over long durations.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
A Gridded Ion Engine (GIE) is an electrostatic space propulsion device that ionizes a propellant, typically xenon, within a discharge chamber and then accelerates these positive ions to high velocities using an electrostatic potential difference created by a series of precisely aligned grids, yielding high specific impulse and low thrust for missions requiring significant delta-v.
BACKGROUND
An ion thruster, ion drive, or ion engine is a form of electric propulsion used for spacecraft propulsion. An ion thruster creates a cloud of positive ions from a neutral gas by ionizing it to extract some electrons from its atoms. The ions are then accelerated using electricity to create thrust. Ion thrusters are categorized as either electrostatic or electromagnetic.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Ion engine
- Ion thruster
- Electrostatic ion thruster
- Gridded ion thruster
- Electrostatic ion engine
USAGE NOTE
Gridded ion engines are predominantly used for station-keeping of satellites, orbit raising, and long-duration deep-space missions where high fuel efficiency is critical, despite their low thrust output.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Gridded Ion Engine.
A major government agency conducting extensive research and development in advanced gridded ion engines, such as the NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) and HiPEP, for deep-space exploration and scientific missions.
A leading commercial developer and manufacturer of electric propulsion systems, including a variety of gridded ion engines for various space applications, from small satellites to deep-space probes.
A prominent aerospace manufacturer known for designing, developing, and manufacturing advanced propulsion systems, including the NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster - Commercial (NEXT-C) gridded ion engine.
A British multinational defense technology company recognized for its expertise in electric propulsion, including the development and production of the T5 gridded ion engine, used on missions like GOCE and BepiColombo.
An Italian company specializing in advanced propulsion systems and small satellites, actively developing and manufacturing a range of electric propulsion technologies, including gridded ion engines.
Japan's national aerospace agency, known for its pioneering use of gridded ion engines on the Hayabusa asteroid sample return missions and continued research into high-performance electric propulsion.
Germany's national aeronautics and space research centre, conducting extensive research and development in electric propulsion systems, including advanced gridded ion engines for future space missions.