ion engine

noun

Definition of ion engine

: a reaction engine deriving thrust from the ejection of a stream of ionized particles

Examples of ion engine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But to really make the most of the ion engine, the craft needs onboard automatous navigation. — Smithsonian Magazine, "Astronomers Prepare a Mission Concept to Explore the Ice Giant Planets," 8 Jan. 2020 After tests and checkout, each satellite's low-power ion engine will be used to raise its orbit to an operational altitude of about 342 miles. — William Harwood, CBS News, "SpaceX launches another 60 Starlink internet satellites, pushes total to nearly 500," 4 June 2020 When they are launched – using the company's own reusable Falcon 9 rockets – they are placed into orbit above Earth's surface and then use their onboard ion engines to raise altitude up to an operational orbit, which can take several months. — Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Seeing weird lights in the sky? It's not aliens, it's the latest SpaceX project," 27 Apr. 2020 Better yet, the power needed to run the ion engine can come from solar panels — no heavy onboard fuel tanks or generators required. — Corey S. Powell, Discover Magazine, "These New Technologies Could Make Interstellar Travel Real," 13 Mar. 2019 Launched in 2007 with an ion engine, Dawn is nearing the end of its extended mission. — Marcia Dunn, OrlandoSentinel.com, "NASA's Dawn spacecraft sending back close-ups of dwarf planet Ceres," 3 July 2018 Launched in 2007 with an ion engine, Dawn is nearing the end of its extended mission. — Marcia Dunn, OrlandoSentinel.com, "NASA's Dawn spacecraft sending back close-ups of dwarf planet Ceres," 3 July 2018 Launched in 2007 with an ion engine, Dawn is nearing the end of its extended mission. — Marcia Dunn, OrlandoSentinel.com, "NASA's Dawn spacecraft sending back close-ups of dwarf planet Ceres," 3 July 2018 Launched in 2007 with an ion engine, Dawn is nearing the end of its extended mission. — Marcia Dunn, OrlandoSentinel.com, "NASA's Dawn spacecraft sending back close-ups of dwarf planet Ceres," 3 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ion engine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Ion engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ion%20engine. Accessed 25 Feb. 2021.

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