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6 kW Hall thruster in operation at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 3D sketch of an electromagnetic propulsion fusion plasma thruster. Spacecraft electric propulsion (or just electric propulsion) is a type of spacecraft propulsion technique that uses electrostatic or electromagnetic fields to accelerate mass to high speed and thus generating thrust to modify the velocity of a spacecraft in ...
International Space Station solar array wing (Expedition 17 crew, August 2008).An ISS solar panel intersecting Earth's horizon.. The electrical system of the International Space Station is a critical part of the International Space Station (ISS) as it allows the operation of essential life-support systems, safe operation of the station, operation of science equipment, as well as improving crew ...
There are four sets of solar arrays that power the station and the fourth set of arrays were installed in March 2009. 240 kilowatts of electricity can be generated from these solar arrays. That comes to 120 kilowatts average system power, including 50% ISS time in Earth's shadow. [23] Flexible solar arrays are being investigated for use in space.
Space technology is technology for use in outer space. Space technology includes space vehicles such as spacecraft , satellites , space stations and orbital launch vehicles ; deep-space communication ; in-space propulsion ; and a wide variety of other technologies including support infrastructure equipment, and procedures .
Batteries are used on spacecraft as a means of power storage. Primary batteries contain all their usable energy when assembled and can only be discharged. Secondary batteries can be recharged from some other energy source, such as solar panels or radioisotope-based power (), and can deliver power during periods when the space vehicle is out of direct sunlight.
An electric sail (also known as an electric solar wind sail or an E-sail) is a proposed form of spacecraft propulsion using the dynamic pressure of the solar wind as a source of thrust. It creates a "virtual" sail by using small wires to form an electric field that deflects solar wind protons and extracts their momentum.
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In-space propulsion exclusively deals with propulsion systems used in the vacuum of space and should not be confused with space launch or atmospheric entry. Several methods of pragmatic spacecraft propulsion have been developed, each having its own drawbacks and advantages.