Saturday, August 1, 2026
Science

For satellites as small as a briefcase, getting around in space just got a whole lot easier

MIT engineers are testing a new propulsion system that combines the power and speed of conventional chemical thrusters with the precision and fuel-efficiency of electrical thrusters. The system could enable the design of nimbler, more flexible small satellites, which could perform both fast, powerfu...

For satellites as small as a briefcase, getting around in space just got a whole lot easier
Image: Phys.org
MIT engineers are testing a new propulsion system that combines the power and speed of conventional chemical thrusters with the precision and fuel-efficiency of electrical thrusters. The system could enable the design of nimbler, more flexible small satellites, which could perform both fast, powerful maneuvers and slower, precise adjustments, depending on the mission and moment at hand.

Originally published at Phys.org

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