DIY NASA-Inspired Ionic Plasma Thruster: Revolutionizing Propulsion with High Voltage & Electromagnets! Unlock the secrets of ionic propulsion with my latest DIY experiment! Discover how to harness high-voltage generators (50,000+ volts!) to accelerate ionized gases, creating thrust without moving parts—just like advanced NASA ion thrusters!
source.image: Skill Make
In this video, I break down: How electrons collide with neutral gases to generate supercharged plasma. The role of electromagnets in focusing ion beams for maximum thrust efficiency. Step-by-step build of a dual-stage plasma thruster (inspired by aerospace engineering!).
Ion thrusters use beams of ions (electrically charged atoms or molecules) to create thrust in accordance with momentum conservation. The method of accelerating the ions varies, but all designs take advantage of the charge/mass ratio of the ions. This ratio means that relatively small potential differences can create high exhaust velocities. This reduces the amount of reaction mass or propellant required, but increases the amount of specific power required compared to chemical rockets.
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Ion thrusters are therefore able to achieve high specific impulses. The drawback of the low thrust is low acceleration because the mass of the electric power unit directly correlates with the amount of power. This low thrust makes ion thrusters unsuited for launching spacecraft into orbit, but effective for in-space propulsion over longer periods of time.
